Dock

She is between
Five and ten proudly
Holding at arms length
On fishing line a fish she
Has caught captured forever
In a photo her family has taken
Of her in her swimsuit smiling,
I work with her at the Texas
Highway Department for
Two decades always
Thinking of her in
The photo on a
Dock amid her
Family which
The old
Highway
Department
Was though it
Later changed to
More of a business
As typified by her birthday
Party at a Chinese buffet where
We took her on her birthday
But our new boss lady got
Up to talk leaving the girl
On the dock bemused
As the boss told us
No more such
Birthday
Lunches and
Instead all birthdays
That month would all be
Celebrated at on lunch where
Our new boss lady would talk about
Total Quality management but the
Girl on the dock holding the fish
At arms length held this new
Methodology at arms
Length an I felt the
Sense of family
Fade but I
Always
Saw my friend
As the little girl on
The dock proudly holding
Her fish at arms length
And I felt a family
Fondness for
Her I could
Never
Express as
She was a young
Woman for
Whom
Love was
A battlefield
Far removed from
Family fondness
And even now
I see her on
The dock
With her
Fish and
A smile.