Behind the Lines: by David Heiller

by David Heiller Malika and Laura at play ! It was a modern miracle. It happened Saturday. I didn’t know a Saturday could start that way. My daughter and her friend got up early to play. And that’s what the two girls did all day. First they played Monopoly. They counted out the money, And didn’t get sore like when I lose to my honey. They sat in the living room and shook the dice, And laughed at Chance, thought Boardwalk was nice. Laura played Yahtzee and she beat us bad, Me and my honey, but we didn’t get mad. We looked at each other, and whispered secretly, “I can’t believe they’re not watching TV.” Next came the Barbies. I thought it was great. Though I couldn’t follow much because I’m not eight. They scolded and folded their dolls and dresses. I could just picture the upstairs messes. Kids and mud and water. But I do remember what Laura said to me: “Hey, we haven’t watch...

David Heiller Noah with some tremendous icicles... Ice jams are one of the banes of northern living.   You wouldn’ t call it a sign of spring, The water dripping off the roof Like it did last Saturday. No, you’d need a lot more proof Than that. And so I won’t begin To make more of it than was there. Just some steady drops of water Falling through the winter air. Yet I climbed up on the roof, Quicker than a playful otter. I had to look, it’s been so long Since we’ve seen ice turn into water. The edges of the roof were caked With ice about 10 inches thick. A winter’s overcoat of snow had Built an ice dam, white and slick. And yes, as often is the case, It found a crack above the door That goes into the entryway And made a puddle on the floor. I guess Ι should have patched that spot. But it was a small price to pay, To see this winter lose its grip, A puddle in t...