"A Heartbeat in Time"

A young man glances up from changing a tire
To see a young Beauty with long hair flowing in the autumn breeze
His emotions overwhelmed by a mix of love and desire
But knowing his chances with such a Vision are slim
Maybe he can change enough to win at least her good favor

After a Heartbeat in time, the old man pivots his horse
To see that same beauty, riding down the steep hill
Through the rough forest she guides her horse
Now a Grandmother of ten, but forever young
She has graced him more than ever deserved

Still evokes the mix of love and desire
But multiplied by reverence and enhanced by the years
The trails we have taken have merged into one
And the future will be sweeter
Through a Heartbeat in Time

NOTE: I wrote this in my head as Ellen and I were coming down a long steep hill on the Orange Trail at Hocking on Sunday, April 26, 2009. I did a 180˚ with Cheyenne Lightning to catch a look at Ellen following down the hill on Arian. I could only look for a few seconds because she would have seen me crying. I had remembered that day in October of 1963 when I had a flat tire at Frisch's with Dad's red and white Invicta convertible. We were both 16. Ellen was wearing a plaid wrap around skirt and a burgundy sweater and a soft brown jacket. All the guys driving by thought I was the luckiest guy in Lebanon. An older guy, made a rude comment for which he got his butt kicked a few days later.

As much as I loved her then, I love her more now. I put this to paper for Ellen's 62nd birthday.
- Jon Heffner