Stripped Away

The layers of love begin growing before birth

a baby knows its parents’ voices the moment it emerges

moment by experience, experience by moment

more fantastic than 7 layer dip and 7 layer cake

we paint over our hearts with the love we encounter

hardly aware of the canvas of our life

Then, somewhere in time

we begin to lose those we love

hopefully, one by one

but not always

and again the tapestry of our hearts

changes

these colors are different

more piercing or more serene

For me these colors are deep

lusty burgandy for my dog

mauve and green for my mother

black, white and oh so red for Trina

Red, White a Blue for Steve

watery blue gray for my husband

forest green for one I will not name

glittering gold for Dougie

I know you prefer the