Versions of Home

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)

Only a Few Servings Left

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

cycle summer camp--
real-life language lessons
(fix, pump, pedal, grin)

recent garden news:
our tenth homegrown salad meal, 
lupines, lilies, love

the most perfect park
the most perfect afternoon
marred by words, actions

my innocent girl
who only wanted this day
not a broken mom

but it's just a blur
one day bleeds into the next
watered with defeat

yoga, gardening:
life skills and English practice
midsummer dream

surrounded by blooms
(yet the reality kills)
as they slowly die