A Backyard Day © 1996
by Joan Papalia-Eisert

Reminiscent of my mother's sheets
looking lonely on the line
when September was too warm
 and we were gone
has my sweet caramel daughter
nibbling an apple in her wading pool
 each look a book
while I'm clinging to the buzz and flutter
of this August afternoon

She'll be gone before I know it
like my shadow
in this particular sun