Both of us understood 
what a privilege it was 
to be out for a walk 
with each other 
we could tell from our different 
heights that this 
kind of thing happened 
so rarely that it might 
not come round again 
for me to be allowed
even before I 
had started school 
to go out for a walk 
with Miss Giles 
who had just retired 
from being a teacher all her life 

she was beautiful 
in her camel hair coat 
that seemed like the autumn leaves 
our walk was her idea 
we liked listening to each other 
her voice was soft and sure 
and we went our favorite way 
the first time just in case 
it was the only time 
even though it might be too far 
we went all the way 
up the Palisades to the place 
we called the pinnacle 
with its park at the cliff's edge 
overlooking the river 
it was already a secret 
the pinnacle
as we were walking back 
when the time was later 
than we had realized 
and in fact no one
seemed to know where we had been 
even when she told them
no one had heard of the pinnacle 

and then where did she go