DORI CLEARWATER

1995 COPYRIGHTED BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND WATCHING YOU LEAP FROM AN IRON SWING SET HITTING THE GROUND AND BOWING IN THE SUNSET WITH A GENTLE LAKE BEHIND YOU RIPPLING SOFTLY I WATCH YOU FROM THE PORCH AND SIP MY ICED COFFEE THE SUMMER IS FADING ON THIS FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER YOU WEAR YOUR SWEATER ANTICIPATING AUTUMN WEATHER THE DAYLIGHT'S PASSING BUT THE NIGHT AND LOVELY AND COOL AND YOUR MIND TURNS TOWARD THOUGHTS OF SCHOOL IT'S A PRECIOUS PRIVILEGE TO WITNESS YOUR ADOLESCENSE YET SAD WHILE YOU OUTGROW YOUR CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE LIKE THOSE HARLEQUIN CONES YOU USED TO LIKE FROM THE STORE WHERE YOU USED TO RIDE YOUR BIKE SOMEDAY YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE AND MARRY ALTHOUGH THE YEARS WILL SELDOM SEEM TO VARY EACH SEASON HAS A BEAUTY DISTINCT FROM THE OTHERS THE BEAUTY OF WINTER MAY BE THE ABSENCE OF COLORS BECAUSE IT RAINS IN SPRINGTIME THE SUMMER IS GREEN THE TREES WILL FILL WITH COLOR THIS FALL AND THEN BECOME LEAN I REMEMBER WHEN WE'D HUG AND YOU'D SIT ON MY LAP I'D SING WITH YOU THE SONGS THAT MADE YOU CLAP THE STORIES AND POEMS THAT WOULD COAX YOU TO SMILE THEN YOU'D RUN TO YOUR ROOM AND PULL A TOY FROM THE PILE TODAY I LAID A BLANKET IN THE SHADOW OF THE TREES AND WHILE I SLEPT I DREAMT OF ALL MY SWEETEST MEMORIES IF YOU COULD SEE YOUR MOTHER AS SHE CARRIED YOU INSIDE WITH HER FACE ILLUMINATED BY THE JOY SHE COULDN'T HIDE SHE GOT THE NEWS AT CHRISTMASTIME AND LOVED YOU FROM THEN ON AND PLANTED YOU A TREE AMONG THE FLOWERS OF THE LAWN SHE'D WHISPER SONGS TO YOU AS WE'D DRIVE OUT TO THE FARM AND IN THE WHITE-WASHED GAZEBO ROCK YOU IN HER ARMS YOU CAME WITH BROWN HAIR, ALMOND EYES AND FAWNY SKIN AND SHE WOULD GENTLY TOUCH YOUR TINY DELICATE LIMBS WHEN YOU WERE SMALL YOU'D CRY TO EXPRESS YOUR CARES BUT SOON YOU WOULD SPEAK AND SHARE YOUR PURE IDEAS YOU'D RUN IN COOL GREEN PASTURES AND DODGE THE GARDEN HOSE AND CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR GROWING IN AND OUT OF CLOTHES I THINK OF ALL THE FALLS AND TRANSITIONS YOU'VE WITHSTOOD BUT HOW WILL I DEAL WITH YOUR PASSAGE INTO WOMANHOOD YOU'VE PUT AWAY THE PORCELIN DOLL YOUR GRANDPA BOUGHT YET YOUR TENDER SMILE STILL GIVES ME A JOYFUL THOUGHT I'VE MET YOUR FRIENDS WHEN THEY'VE COME TO THE HOUSE WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM SCHOOL IN YOUR SKIRT AND BLOUSE SUMMER IS GONE AND IT'S ALREADY TURNED TO NIGHT AND THE HOUSE IS SO QUIET AS I SIT HERE AND WRITE I THOUGHT OF A COOKOUT AND WOODEN TABLES IN THE GRASS AND SAW YOU SIPPING KOOL AID FROM AN ANCIENT SNOOPY GLASS BUT I SEE THE CARE BEARS POSTER PEALING FROM THE PLASTER I HEAR THE GRADUAL FADING OF YOUR WARM WINSOME LAUGHTER

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