Grin and Bear It

Toy Story 3. Now.
i could carry the bag out
and cry all morning

a toy, a trigger?
my girl is off to college.
(this is no cartoon).

and so he will stay.
though i know she will leave me.
each grinning their truth.

Permitted

with a perfect score
my youngest surprises me
(she’s ready to drive)

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

"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)

'welcome to our house'
they even opened their car
to the teens’ delight

if they could see them
maybe they could listen; help them
maybe they’d be safe

this is how it starts:
with a circle and some words
and a little hope

eighteen years finished 
with this mask that hides us all 
from society

graduating girl
ready to face the world
one ray at a time

vaccines could save us
(yet not from the ignorance
spread without needles)