once and only once

life threw us one of the curves

the diagnosis was guarded

my life with her moved into panic

it was with the passing Summer Solstice
we were well into it, soon in Provence

our room was to be kept in lavender roses

fields of lavender stretched seemingly

long into the forever

we were stopped upon a ridge

having a lunch prepared by the hotel

it was then i truly took in her face

eyes lost wildly in the lavender fields below

that Duchenne smile 

happiness swirling in every atom of her existence

the Summer sun bearing down in a gentleness

i was blessed for a moment

but given only a moment

of what heaven holds in wait for me

we came home from France

the miracle we wanted had been granted

i shall always be grateful for that miracle

and the glimpse into the heaven of her

in the lavender fields of Provence

2/12/19