But the Shade Tree

with one vacant lot
the clear divide of wealth
(urban devilry)

If Only Vincent Knew

art in real life:
like a dream reimagined 
for my artist girls

can you feel petals
(a digital fantasy)
falling on your face?

summer camp is done.
art, yoga, cycling, love.
and home stretch? cooking.

these so-rare smiles
pouring milk for tortillas 
like happy siblings

did you say siblings?
how about our matching twins
with perfect spring rolls?

don’t forget sushi 
made with Chinese expertise
to brighten their eyes

and fufu for all
stirred by girls from two cultures
finding friends at home

these mandazi men
so proud of their puffed product
all the way from home

taco influence
on the next generation 
sharing her home’s heart

this sweet quesillo
comes from home with a sweet tale
(we’ve hit a home run)

defeat plagues today
even with this sweet mural
sometimes losses win

a weak pea harvest
(summer slips through soft moments 
between camping; school)

yet the girls giggled 
as they shucked their peas from pods
(no longer my peas)

summer’s soft moments
so fleetingly green and fresh
each year grown harder

my pup, lake, camp, board:
seemingly perfect weekend
(calm before the storm)

the weather plagues me
sending wind when there was none
and stealing these views

if i could lift wings,
glide pelican-like, headfirst,
it wouldn’t matter

alas, i must walk
through all the humanoid storms
that we’ve created

my yellow lupine
has burst into my garden
with soft-petaled joy

"bikes for everyone"
is our summer camp motto
(if not, it should be)

what did we just learn?
first, bike vocabulary:
then, real practice

the best from today?
my daughter's helpful patience
(a prospective teacher)

at sixteen years old
learning to ride can be hard
(a kind heart can help)

childhood bullies
prevented her from riding
till my girl taught her

no award for this
no graduation medal
yet, better than gold