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.
Copyright © Johnette Loefgren | Year Posted 2005
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