summer warms the morning
old car rumbles into
park
laughter spills out
harried and hot, young mother counts
blessings as
they race to the pond
the tongues
of new Nikes get a taste
of country
mud
eager feet scamper to swing sets
heavy chains groan
against steel bars
converging in groups
like starlings on power
lines
strident whoops of kin
Aunt Beth lugs the diaper bag
Uncle Pat his beer
cooler
Roger lights charcoal
men gather popping beer
cans
bragging begins
Grandma Gert sails past Susies' mom
they haven't
spoken for years
quiet girl cousins
set up a Barbie doll camp
in
the shelter house
boy cousins race to baseball field
ball in hand Dan
yells he'll bat first
Nan scorns Barbie dolls
begs to play ball with the
boys
mild melee erupts
hippie-era Bud from Quebec yells
"ain't those
hot dogs cooked yet?"
always late Sally
rushes for empty table
spilling
all the beans
with minds on neither beans or dogs
young Jake and
Lil trudge up the hill
the New England branch:
fat t-bones perched on the
grill
with all those hot dogs
this year Grandma Gert rings the bell
telling all it's
time to gather
Susie's mom, outclassed
her nose turned up at the
steaks
"Easterners! Such snobs."
Walt's dandelion wine
raises glasses - and
eyebrows
a family toast
Bert yells across the tables
to the
Jordan clan
after the toast Dan sneaks a sip
boy cousins
stifle snickers
Susie's brownies gone
she beams at Grandma
Gert
offers more baked beans
two heaping plates of food and then
Pat still enjoys
three kinds of pie
groans of discomfort
settle over stuffed
stomachs
tight belts are loosened
suddenly, Dan's harmonica . . .
Nan knows the
words to the old songs
Walt and Pete chime in
more come, singing
together
harmony
to haunting strains of "Summertime"
Young Jake and Lil trudge down the hill
Gert gets the words wrong;
Susie whispers to her
mom -
"Alzheimers?"
basket in hand Janice overhears
wonders about Bob's
test results
thoughts turn personal
reality no picnic
complex lives return
peals of thunder mixed with sounds
of "same
time, same place next year"