Secrets

we were harmonizing under a watercolour sky
I remember it that way, my sister and I
with hours to play;

Disney, at the Matinee
in seats of plush red velour;
we felt like Queens of a Saturday

the cartoon first, the popcorn fragrance
mixed with theatre dust, the anticipatory dreaminess
air conditioned coolness

and Hershey Bars, and all the stars
from our backyard
astronomy lessons at the museum

basebell surprises with our Grandfather
the organ music not like at church, kind of carnival
how is it the Arkansas Travelers

played every game with a 7th inning stretch
so there we were small girls in petticoats stretching then
outgrowing our shadows so that their hems needed lengthening

near our Grandfather's redwood tall stretch

later fetching watermelon, Arkansas best
so juicy at the picnic tables by the roadside stand,
the rustling trees, and Heaven stands still

and that after hot dogs thick with relish

and Grandmother said, you won't be wanting supper now
will you.
and we thought no, especially not after we had those

cracker jacks too but we kept that a secret
practicing being circumspect
having just found in identical boxes

before we pulled into the carport
the late dusk settled now,
the same revered plastic decoder rings.

mary angela douglas 18 april 2018