Memoirous

I wrote this because, well, summer feels like it is finally here. And, part of our summer ritual was going to a trailer downstate so far out in the country that starlight was as bright as street lamps. We really enjoyed this time away. But, now it is a memory because the property was sold and the contents of our little trailer scattered. There are others, I'm sure, that also have memories, recent or from childhood, of a summer home, camp cabin, or favorite get-away place. Enjoy. Arriving at Night It was always a lot of work just for a weekend and a long drive down, sometimes hitting traffic. Arriving in a vacuum of darkness, you fumble for keys, hidden, uncovering leaf debris, shaking off cobwebs, using the headlights of the car to see. You pause, apprehensive— What has happened to the contents since last there? Has the fridge gone out? Did a storm drive in rain? A musty odor arises from dank carpet, stale, unstirred air smelling slightly of desi...

One Last Time One last summer to smell the green, Water the roses, sit out on the deck drinking coffee. One last sweeping of lady bug carcasses And snaking the toilet with its quirky septic. No more raking leaves, winterizing, Or emptying the water tank before a freeze. No more no more. We are told to hold things lightly In order to let them go. We held on too tight And now it’s time to say good bye. Good bye kissing tree, Good bye bass pond, Good bye blue heron and rope swing. Good bye good bye memories. One last time I want to soak it all in. The bird calls, the low hum of insects, The open sky and mosaic of sunlight beneath the trees. A day can’t be 24 hours—why not forever? Forever golden morning, forever long afternoon. Forever lavender lingering twilight, forever moonlight. Forever the magic of the hour which isn’t an hour, But only lasts a moment. Last walk to the lake to see the wind ripple the surface. We jump ...