Moonstone Memoir

bound by moonstone, they married young

and despite their differences, they loved without an agenda

they lived humbly by their family name, and built with what they could,

I still thank them for that.

greenhouse stroll, class commute, minimum wage

pinewood bed frame was crafted by the hands of a man

who loved a woman with hazelnut woven hair

the fourth post scarred by their initials and wrapped in a heart

telescopes, fairy rings, watercolors

we paid everyday visits to grandpa's nectarine trees

grandma graced us with homegrown zucchini 

their house was our second home 

they always brought us in,

I still thank them for that.

we said goodbye to the place and people that felt like home 

and settled closer to the Atlantic shoreline

graveyard shifts, strawberry milk, campus walks

I was told I was the best reader in my class,

I took a lot of pride in that

skateboard cuts and bruises,

I never recall worrying whether or not I'd heal 

barefoot and bold I defended every living thing,

I guarded with my feet rooted into the floor and arms shouting to the sky

I'd fight those boys if I had to, I would in a heartbeat

burnt oatmeal cookies

she said she was sorry; although, she had no reason to be

she was and still is everything that is good

I built fairy gardens and found comfort sitting under the weeping willow

school was hard, I never liked the loud, I never liked feeling small

I wish I learned to stand up for myself sooner

recess search for sassafras and honeysuckle 

it felt like the world was trying to catch up with us

floral hat boxes, lavender oil, late night re-runs

I took ballet lessons 

but spent more time marveling at the web a spider had spun 
in the corner of our studio than to the lessons themselves 

sneaking bites out of the peaches at the supermarket never got too sweet

I still feel bad I stole those chocolate snowmen, but I laugh about it too

fireflies lit up our backyard,

I still wonder why they visited for only one summer

although their light never lasted long, I'm glad they stayed when they did

my 4th grade class and I stepped into Monet's "The Water Lily Pond" that day at the sculpture grounds,

I hid thinking I would never have to leave

Simon and Garfunkel always knew what to say

so did Cat Stevens, The Smiths, and Tom Rush

time went by

my hair grew longer

my baby teeth were gone

white sage, clear quartz, blank canvases

Mother teaches the importance of kindness,

the beauty in knowledge, to tend to your own spiritual growth, 

and to always become 

Father teaches the importance of education, 

the reward of hard work, to always give, 

and to never let your heart grow old

I have attended funerals, baby blessings, baptisms, and weddings

I have seen love in its best, I have learned all things good are built by careful hands.

My parents built me a childhood with careful hands

I still thank them for that.

(Window by Joel Ryhmer)