On the Wind

i went for a walk today
and caught the scent of you
on the wind
earthen, sweet, and dry,
horses and hay
undeniably you

in an instant
a beautiful breeze 
of early memories 
blew in
and danced around 
inside my mind
tangling up with my heart

you’ve been gone for years
but there you were
with me again

in an instant
I was that little girl
on the farm
chasing chickens
climbing hay bales
and riding horses

together, 
we were racing sticks on the river
eating fresh peas from the garden
roasting “weenies” over the fire
and watching the sunset
glow orange and lavender
above the western mountains

i miss you, grandpa
thank you for the memories
and thank you
for visiting me today
on the wind