We were 16
pattering across the long high bridge
over the Aare River
in Berne
It rained and I dared
to offer Diane from Illinois half of my umbrella
Bumbershoot we called it
don’t know why
we’d heard that somewhere
and it was a romantic notion and
a funny word for two teenagers
estimating the distance
between them
the distance even greater all these years hence
I no longer use the word bumbershoot
I love this. I am there.