Watermelon
E.R. Flynn's wonderful essay about family food favorites and phobias sparked my desire to post this poem, in honor of summer and Labor Day. Thanks, Ed, for the inspiration. Happy Labor Day!
Summer evenings When Mom and Dad Retreat to the lawn swing Bearing thick slices of melon They talk of the day's events And gossip with neighbors. Chicken and potato salad Picnic in Millcreek Canyon To escape the city heat Dad would place a melon In the stream to keep cold As chilled air stirs the leaves. Sparklers in the front yard Flare golden scarlet against The darkest black of night Chins dripping sweet melon juice We kids spit out seeds as we play No Bears Are Out Tonight. Hot sultry evenings Lawn swings and small talk Cool mountain picnics Front yard fireworks and kids Shrieking in their games Sweet melon cools summer heat.
Feel free to explore my Ring Around the Basin archive.
Sue, you did a wonderful job capturing the ethereal qualities of summer which we all would love to remain in forever, or at least for a few extra weeks past summer.