a little town in Idaho
its population
less than 300 souls
a new home, chosen by fate or chance...

it was late when they left
a cold rain fell
chilling after a long hot summer
this September evening

he checked the mirror
smiled, a tentative smile
as he watched with one eye
their chests rise and fall
nostrils gently flaring

he thanked the broadening sky
dark, but full of stars
for his twin daughters, four years old
asleep in the back seat
of his 1984 Chevy Caprice

the town's name was Bliss
and he knew, the instant he learned of it
that Bliss was to be their new home
he packed a few bags
they fit nicely in the large trunk
with room to spare
and left everything else
in a two-room apartment
on the third floor
in a brown brick building
in a conglomeration of seventy-two brown brick buildings
he left it all behind
and vowed to not look back

he wanted only a little
food, clothing, shelter
love, joy, peace, wonder
hopscotch, Dr. Seuss, monkeybars
safety, fulfillment, and mostly
Bliss

nearly 1900 miles
a short journey
from the view of the stars
less than a blink

he'd drive a few more hours
cross into the next state
and find a clean hotel room
get rested for another day's journey

he remembered many things
on the dark rainy road
but two things were prevalent
the senseless deaths
his wife, his lover, his mate
taken with no warning
in a typical act of random violence
and his father
who lived past eighty
but never really lived
died the slowest of deaths
bound to the past, to expectations, to loss
he never knew life

he wanted neither of these
for himself or for his angels
sleeping soundly
in the large backseat

he wanted only a little
food, clothing, shelter
love, joy, peace, wonder, acceptance
hopscotch, Dr. Seuss, monkeybars
safety, fulfillment, and mostly
Bliss

he had no real plans
didn't even know if he'd stay in the town
of less than 300 souls
the town called Bliss

but he did have one intention
for himself and for his precious angels
that regardless of the name
of the town where they chose to stay
in love, joy, peace, wonder, acceptance
hopscotch, Dr. Seuss, monkeybars
safety, fulfillment, and hope
it would be a town
where pain need not exist
where love and joy persist

it would surely be a town
they would call...

Bliss