Brimming

 Brimming

I remember Pete’s teaching me about 

surface tension—which explained the 

rounding quiver of water 

above the cup’s lip—

Amazing!  

A cup could be 

fuller than full! 

On beyond, even!

Pete explained so many things 

to me without ruining 

their mystery.

I loved him for that—

My cup runneth over.  

That’s from The Bible.

Pete and I  both knew

that meant that we 

should be grateful.

I already told you that 

he stood beside me 

in our backyard next to 

the white picket fence 

to explain Infinity—

that he insisted on using

the word vast—

and on stretching it out—

s-p-a-c-e  is so  v-a-s-t—

you travel through it fast

but it l-a-s-t-s and l-a-s-t-s

even after you p-a-s-s.

Pete liked to use big words,

but he also liked to mess around 

with the small ones.

Pete knew there were 

lots of things 

we could think about.

He told them to me 

and let me think about them 

with him.

Like a big brother.

                                    —Sef, 3/19/2025