Florida Sunshine
Although my memories, bleached by time, by years
And decades, are both pale and patchy, some
At least float, vivid. Often those with fears
And pain recede. Noon beauties overcome
These bad ones. Photographs of me when blond,
So blond that it was more like white, a gold
So bright it made most people have a fond
Occasion of a stab of love, cajoled
By loveliness, are really all I have
Instead of memories of it. Beauty, slight
In recollection, still can act as salve
To change some darker memories to trite
Things tucked away in mental space. They last
But don’t. They blink with black eyes, then are past.