Family Picnic

Mother sits beneath the trees unwrapping tasy memories she lays them on a checkered spread with lemonade and butter bread she says, "come now give this a try" I twirl and twirl and ask her why "Because you can, because you should because they taste so, very good." I took a bite and closed my eyes and opened them to starry skies fireworks popped and splinters fell into the creek I knew so well a firefly flickered on my shoulder and suddenly the world was older My brother smiled behind the trees and threw an acorn out at me I laughed and chased him round and round until the sun came spinning down and we were sitting in the park eating ice cream in the dark Mother sat beneath the trees packing up the memories Come along, desert is done the taste of summer on you tongue gum drop kisses, Misty dreams sassafras and jelly beans eaten with a splash of lime flavor laden summertime The others all have dined and gone and now you're left to carry on She folded up the checkered spread with squares of white and faded red she laid it out across my arm her smile was mischievous and warm she put the basket in my hands go fill this up with hopes and plans Cook up something, make a stew of something old and something new just hand them down your recipes of life and love and Bumble Bees My Mothers' hair with silver shone she kissed my cheek "you're not alone" a breeze blew through the Moonlet glade the end of summer's serenade I saw their shadows drift away "Bring us back next year" they say Next year I guess I'll make the dishes of yesteryear and future wishes to serve to those who come behind me beneath the trees is where they'll find me.