Sabbath Schooner

A perfect Sunday, as only god can make The skies the barometer, tend to set the mood This day clouds…oh, so wooly white Like sheep grazing… among the blossom blue Sunshine’s accents must be added too Dad, magnificent in his Sabbath greys Mom in dress pastels pink I and brother with our ties Sisters in their outfits, scarlet lemon rainbow’s paint Upon this most special day excitement begins to break Mass now ending, bells a chiming and I think I heard an angel hark "It’s time to sail dad’s newly fashioned model boat Us kids led by thrills ran ahead to a pond within a park We cheer him on… cheering! “Go dad, go”!! Watching, our eyes filled anticipations As he sets her onto placid waters hoping she will float Harmonious sighs, of wonder, escape our lips As the canvas streamers now pervaded… capture air Cutting… through the glistening sun filled surface Waves of spectators rippling to pond’s edge, begin to stop and stare I silently break and turn… And glance upon that man Like the mast of his vessel, stands proud I think to myself “that’s my dad” Then, suddenly thoughts be broken By clatters and whispers of new heard commotions On his face a frown begins to grow, as I looked towards the lake Taken was the wind right, out of his sails…and it lay in the midst of the pool… devoid of any motion Disenchantment surely to be had Spreading through crowds that were growing thin But, the unexpected, was what happened next In his Sunday best, my dad… he walked right in! My whole family now, especially mom Utterly and completely aghast! Little brother shouting! “Go, dad, go”! The crowd returned, the water rising to his chest Roars of encouragement and rounds of applause As waterlines reached engulfing his neck The childhood memory forever stained into my head Was of dad splashing out… soaking wet! The schooner under one arm, his contagious laughter to us spread His Sabbath grey suit was now absolutely wrecked! Like I said... It was a perfect Sunday… In the eyes of this little boy