baby turns thirteen
surrounded by proffered love
that she’s always shared
welcome back, Pilot
we’re sorry we wrecked you, girl
please forgive our luck
reality hits:
school supply shopping, grading.
at least there’s a pool.
the storm has arrived
enough to bring shrieking youth
joy none of us find
yet the lake beckons
with its endless, silent joy
should we ask for more?
or live like ancients
who treasured every birchbark
for the life it gave?
an Ely day trip
for a family pic, hike
a little shopping
Dear Minnesota,
How do you tease with lakes buried under ice for seven months that are swimmable by July?
How my Colorado blood envies your lack of altitude.
How windy you made this lake for three days until the dusk presented a photo-less calm that brought all eleven of us onto the water.
Even Ruby, just six, paddled to the bald eagle island halfway across the bay.
Even my mother, just sixty-five, tolerated the nearly-still lake.
You should have seen it with your non-existent books, your lack of information published online, your secret beauty buried beneath ponderosa pines and fish-hunting loons.
You should have told me that peat bogs and mosquitos mask the firelit perfection of summer.
That the North Woods encapsulate the fairy tale life we’ve all wished to achieve.
I should have known, Minnesota, that you were too good to be true.
a tornado scare
led to this downtown hassle
with a sparkling Vista
delayed flight gave time
for a capitol your
offering domed wealth
my man has arrived
for our drive to the North Woods
where water saves all
you haven’t ridden
over the Rockies; not yet.
Superior wins.
with a pup and girls
(unread itinerary)
we biked thirty clicks
Minnesota wins
for elevation record
on these little legs
and to end it all:
waterfall, campfire, cheese.
who would ask for s’more?
a frontier village
with world-record bison
thank you, Dakota
a cider dog fest
on a random Fargo night?
(mead is delicious)
the northern midwest
is a reality show
of kindness at play
i never listen
when someone says it’s boring
i always find fun
North Dakota wins
kindness, camping, paddling
and late-night sunsets
Earth lodge history
and indigenous genius
round out this cycle
with Art Deco touch
to capitalize the north
and give us this view
all in a day’s work:
this “boring” state makes dreams bright
campfires and all
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