Poem With a Boat In It

Do you remember that long-ago summer Camping out down by the lake? You, me, your sister, and my mother And all of the memories we’d make? How we strolled along the shore toward the dam When we happened upon those twin coves One with a sad little boat in the sand And the other, a small, empty hole The first of the two, you decided to name The Lagoon With a Boat in It And the second one, you proudly proclaimed Was the Lagoon Without a Boat in It Names can be tricky, and even absurd But the point that I really am after Is that a good friendship requires no words When we say all we need with our laughter It’s been many years since our camping trip On the shores of Lake Nacimiento And yet it was all of your jokes and your quips That are still my favorite mementos. For Dianna Parker