From My World and My People

I am from Saturday wagon rides down the winding lake roads.
“Faster, Daddy! Faster!” as my dad struggled to catch his breath.

From bringing home wild frogs and minnows from the lake and keeping them captive in my mom’s Tupperware.

Climbing the pine trees with Eddie next door.
“I bet I can climb higher than you!”
As I scrounged up the courage to climb one branch higher,
Letting my problems drip down the tree trunk with the sticky sap.

From putting my terrified rabbit in that beloved Radio Flyer wagon,
And pushing it down the hill,
All the while believing my rabbit loved “the thrill of it all”
Just like me.

Brisk October days reading on the dock by the still lake,
The autumn tinted leaves painted the setting before me.

From long winding bike rides through the silent woods.
Nature was my most understanding friend,
As the trees embraced my every emotion.

Sinking my feet into the soft, mushy bottom of the lake,
Looking for mussels in what seemed and felt
Like my mom’s homemade applesauce.

From hiding my sister’s clothes in the snow for absolutely no reason at all,
Except to see if it would make her mad.

Then fishing with her until the warm rays of the sun sunk down in front of us,
Not catching anything but our silent apologies and casting out our rivaling past.

From those precious moments,
My dad and I shared skipping stones and soaking our feet in the brook,
Savoring the sweetness of bonding.

From the words, the prayers, the hugs, the kisses
The world I’ve grown to cherish,
And the people I’ve grown to love
For they have made me who I am.