Right now

With shaky hands,

she reaches for a cup of tea,

the spoon clanks, 

water splashes,

but stays safely aboard

the mug takes off,

finding flight 

dancing to and fro-

erratically, 

the rim reaches her icy lips, 

collisions deliver their warmth

vanilla and chamomile,

tickle nerve endings

a sleepy vision,

stretches its long spidery arms

she takes in a sip while inhaling flowery vapours,

clanking all the while,

In a second,

the cup is released,

back into flight,

turbulence resumes, 

coming in

for a landing,

bumpity bump-

settling safely,

onto the coffee table

well into late afternoon.

Mother of sons

        narrow breaks

in grasses

prongs pressed into 

        soft dirt

                  pointing to..

       lupine banks,

pools of rainbows

          I can do this all day, 

                follow you little fawn

          up river

snapping pictures

of fish

          i am the one who stamps,

     time..

 you are the one,

casting from fallen trunks

           in thin sneakers

              with worn out treads

                 that lay precipitously,

over swift currents..

I am trying to trust you,

       but I have the route

mapped out..

      to save you

          when you slip in

               where the river

                    widens

               sedges spread into

                    open territory 

                             fluttering 

                                   black eyes

                    7-foot rods

                         dangling lines

                    men

                         trying out 

                    their tricks

                         shiny decorated metals

                    white noise

                          goes by

                          I’m forgotten,

                               you’re way up river

                          water hyperfocus

                               an outdoor classroom

                          commands

                               your attention

                          

                          feathery balls of pollen

                               fade,

                                    in swirls

                               of gentle currents 

                          on the walk

                    back to camp    

              letting go,

     is not easy

but there is discovering,

         and rediscovering

that is all my own  

The longest day

Hip, hip hooray! Today’s the longest day!

You can go, or you can stay,

You can linger and sway, 

while soaking up the ray!

You can dawdle and meander,

Or, takeoff on a scamper

you can stare and gaze,

set a marshmallow ablaze!

Take off a shoe,

tie it in two

Take an extra long poo,

Oh, the things you can do!

Let’s meet up at the park-

And set up some lawn games: 

Soccer tennis, ultimate frisbee, WWE-

Boy, oh boy! I feel wild and free!

Wiggle your toes, 

take off your clothes! 

Look up in the sky,

Wave airplanes bye, bye!

Hip, hip hooray! Today’s the longest day! 

You can go, or you can stay,

Just please, oh please 

go out and play!

Take a dip in the pool,

Or, do a tree pose on a stool,

Give a friend a call,

Eat some spicy dahl,

Go run around the block,

Make a mural out of chalk

Put on something with a sparkle,

Play five games straight of Farkle!

Float around on a noodle,

stop to pet a poodle

Take an extra long forest jaunt,

do whatever you want!!!

Hip, hip hooray! Today’s the longest day! 

You can go, or you can stay,

Run in circles,

down by the bay

Feel free to mumble! 

Invent a new stumble,

Put all of your toys into a rat-infested jumble

No worries, 

because you have time on your side,

So go ahead! 

Take another ride on the slide!

Don’t hesitate to cast a super wide net,

Because today is the day,

the sun will hardly set!