THE KITCHEN TRUCK

Alyssa and Hannah, aged three and four
Traveled to a lake shore camp ground

In a kitchen truck
Where daddy hooked up lights and heat
Hosed in water and hosed out muck.

A campsite, complete with acorn marbles
     To rain on our roof
     And cover the woods
With breakfast for the wild turkeys 
That joined us for bacon and eggs
     Though only the dog and Hannah saw
     The animals with just two legs.     

It was spring
And exploring the woods was the thing to do

Marinas, sight-seeing, dams?  Too adult
The kids wanted to collect
Bugs and worms

Outside into the cool, 
Back in to the heat
Boots on, socks off
Dirty feet, cold feet
Comings and goings became the rule

When rain kept us inside
Grandma’s stories brought snugglers to her side.
“Meme, will you  make another lap
So that I can sit there too?”

What was the big hit, 
our favorite?

Setting our clothes on fire 
with campfire sticks?
     What a laugh that brought                             
Seeing live catfish?
     Are these the fish that cats eat?
The place with the rocks and dead people?
     Definitely not

To our kids 
Feeling the soft fur of a dead deer 
Could not be beat.                   

Dennis R. Keefe

May 7, 2004
March 20, 2016