Not all of us are present
the last time we exercise
with Marilyn on her front
lawn—

our energetic leader away,
others otherwise engaged—
and nothing is spoken
about this moment

as Amy leads us through
leg lifts and bicep curls,
toe rises and all manner
of stretches.

But we are struck by
the poignancy of our
oldest member who
will move in a few days

to new location. We
toast each other with
fresh squeezed grapefruit
juice in mini paper cups.

We hug goodbye, tamp
down emotion clinging
like dew on the long grass
on this perfect spring

morning—couldn’t find
one better—while on
the lawn behind us
Marilyn’s Love Wins

sign still stands. Because
it does. Love Still Wins
(hers and that of so many
who’ve rallied to help),

and we good humans
are proof of that, no
matter how fast or how
far we move, no matter

where our travels take us.