Free Throw
Joy Ephemeral
There is a certain scent
It always seems to be present
On the nicest days
It cascades through my window
While you navigate your car
Through a maze of winding back roads
And for a second
I feel an unfamiliar sense of nostalgia
And at the stop sign
I finally realize
We haven’t moved
Turn to see you smiling at me
Warmly observing

I have casted sadness out into the ether for so long
There is no joy left to find

At our destination
Just a quaint and simple gathering
Of people that we know and love
Everyone’s in good spirits
Joking and cracking up
There is something in the air
I can’t describe it
Let it wrap around me
Silently observing you laughing
And then you notice
And smile back at me
I have long been casting sadness out into the ether
But for once I think I’m at a joyous moment in time
It feels like everything is in slow motion but I know its truly fleeting
Let this linger and enjoy the ride
Of course I know that this will fade
Push that thought out of my brain
Now is not the time to overanalyze
Soak it in, appreciate the subtle warmth of its embrace
So I can cherish this experience long after it dies

Just let it linger
Let it stall
Let it slow down to a crawl
Let it drag it’s feet along
Cause with a blink it could be gone

There is a certain scent
It always seems to be present
On the nicest days
It’s always fleeting and never lasts