I can still

Remember

The taste of the

Dark chocolate

That I ate so fervently

And the way it

Melted in my hand

Staining my fingers

Tag

That’s how we passed the time

It’s a wonder

The game lasted as long as it did

With just four people -

My dad, mom, sister, and me

After awhile we’d break

For a snack

Hence, the chocolate

But occasionally a sip

Of Juicy Juice

And interestingly enough

I never thought to question

Its repetitive name

After tag my sister and I would

Hike up the hill

To the wooden park bench

And race down

Pretending all the while

That we were flying

What I’d give to be five again

And on a picnic

With my family

Playing tag

And eating chocolate

As bittersweet
As this memory

Daily Routine

Laundry keeps me sane
When everything else is changing
It stays the same

Always there
Providing balance

Unarming the chaos
Of day to day life
Is that routine of sorting, dumping, hanging,
Folding

Niche for germs
Sitting in a pile
The sneeze left on Wednesday’s sweater sleeve

Day’s madness comes to a halt           
When clothes say so
Demanding the exchange of wrinkles for creases

Ready and waiting
The machine beckons

Yesterday’s load saw this same face
Going through the motions of stability

I will watch the sun rise

From my kitchen window
Over a bowl of Cheerios

I will dig up that old family recipe

And bake until the aroma of fresh bread

Wafts through the whole house

I will hang a new picture on the wall

A pendant for the plaster

I will search for my favorite shoes

Even though the soles are separating

From the toes up to the tongues

I will host a block party

And man the grill

I will stop to find Orion’s belt

Because who knew clothes were worn

So many miles away?

And since I can’t get to these items today

They’re on my to do list

For tomorrow