Grandma's House

 Grandma’s House

 

 

The long driveway, barking banter, the arrival

Gumboots awaiting our growing feet in every size

Container’s, saved and waiting, ready for the journey to the swamp

The long walk, which spot first? 

The barren lands of the fire-pit?

The cold-room, to shuffle aside preserved foods to find a salamander.

The smell of musky earth and Grandpa’s old tools.

The barn, sawdust piled to the sky. 

Flinging our hearts first.

The pond. 

Unbroken waters.

Eyes gleaming, a croak,

A flicker of a water skeeters gliding gracefully, skillfully across the expanse

Water beetles bobbing to the top, swift with the net

Hello sweet dragonfly larva, chomping at the bit to devour another tadpole

Frog jellies, wiggling beans, laugher and giggles

A garter snake, a prized catch, we holler to the gods at this conquest

Grandma addled the eggs, mother goose is away

The bell chimes, our voices are named, summoned from another land.

Time for dinner.

That old smelly bar of soap, rinsing swap smell off small curious hands.

Beets, pickled beets, Grandmas pickled beets.

Fresh rolls, the fork hits the plate

The crickets play their nightly serenade

The clock ticks, the bumble-berry crumble served hot, the ice-cream melts quickly

Hungry eyes devour the sight while waiting for the last to be served. Begin.

She makes tea, earl grey

The murmur of adults at the table.

Just enough light to take one more journey outside

The cats start arriving, not intending to be the dessert of coyotes

The Earth here holds childhood

Sinking into the mud

Settling into the soft breeze

Nestled into the trees.

 

Katie Vaino