POEM ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THE CARD

POEM ON THE BACK SIDE

OF KAREN'S POST CARD

THAT READS CLOSE THE CAMPS

   

       --for Mary Campbell

Waiting for Dheezus after school

in front of her house. Field trip

with Grandpa. Sammie & Josh.

A drive into Lower Valley, a hop

harvest, hop drying tour

with Uncle Tim. Josh calls,

mid-sentence, walking his girl

friend from school. I've got

too much homework, Grandpa.

Salmon and rice with Karen

before this. Elegance

over gratefulness. Pleasure

beyond thanks. Sweet basil

and rosemary, wood smoke,

indirect heat and into nostrils

through old rose bushes.

Karen begins stretching

this morning at health club.

Insurance picks up tab.

At the hop farm kids wear

yellow vests, hard hats,

they'll climb old steps

steep into rafters, raising

their eyes taking pictures

with cell phones, watch

vines turn into buds

and hundred dollar bills.

Getting into the car

my granddaughter asks,

Why did the String Cheese

have friends? Because

it was so a-peeling.

Close the camps.

            Jim Bodeen

            19 Sept 2019