Park Street in July

 

‘Granny-patches’ Grandma says

‘Going to be a cushion for you…

To remember me by when I am gone’

Every July the maple-trees

Transformed the sunny street

Into an enchanting corridor

As overhead verdant arms would meet

In a summer-long embrace

Every year I returned

A little older than the year before

But never too old to play with the antique bell

On the wooden front-door  

Or to politely sip Grandma’s tart lemonade

From the painted blue porch-step

In late-day shade

Hating and waiting for the snob next door

To walk by and stick out her tongue

A ritual since we were very young

Across the street Holly’s mother yells ‘supper’

The screen door slaps…twice

Once for *Holly, once for *Jack, her little brother

Who got spanked an hour earlier

For spilling his Dad’s ice-cold beer

And poor Jack’s wails

Split the sultry atmosphere

Of sun-dappled sidewalk

And *fried chicken

Grandma's rocker just kept on creakin’

While her fingers and crochet needle flew to its rhythm…

‘Must be going to rain,’ was all she said

‘I can feel it in my rheumatism ’

And I twirl a honey-colored braid

Wishing the yarn was any other shade but

Gold, dark brown and beige

‘Granny-patches’ Grandma says

‘Going to be a cushion for you…

To remember me by when I am gone’

Once more I politely say ‘thank-you’ and turn

To count fifteen

…that’s how often Crash has cruised

The main street

Showing off his new-used Comaro
With a modified muffler

And keeping a sharp look-out for

Girls

Crash, with his big afro-curls

His name isn’t really Crash

It’s Hank, but everyone calls him Crash

‘Cause he’s had a few

Girls, that is

Tomorrow we’re going to walk to the market

Slowly, up the shady street

The girl with the honey-blonde braids

Beside the grandma with her nylon kerchief

In July, and her shiny satchel

Swinging lightly from her dimpled elbows

…off to get the usual

Cheese curds and sugar-rosettes

© Janet Martin

Writer's Unite homework Assignment:  Homework = Small town living - write a poem, story, song...describing some aspect of life in a small town. 

Every summer I had a wee taste of small-town life when I visited my 'town-grandma'.

This 'poem' could have been a mile long; so many memories to choose from.

Thanks Glynis, for this assignment. It was so much fun. I have not recalled some of these memories for a long time!


*names have been changed out of respect for each one's privacy.
* there was a Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant at the end of the street.