there were grasshoppers on stalks
and it was just a short, secret walk
down to a creek no one else knew about but us.
Back there, we didn't care about the real world--
there were willows and birch
and a glorious feeling of being out of the reach
of those who didn't like the girls we'd become.
I brought Peach Creek and you had Berry Frost,
and then there was a bottle of Plum Hollow just in case.
You lay back on the grass and raised your arm,
shading your eyes as you watched the red-winged blackbirds race.
We should have been in class, mute and bored silly,
but instead we went down there and talked about everything,
most of it ridiculous, but it didn't matter--
we had the day and a buzz and our mood rings stayed cherry red.
I shouldn't have kissed you, I guess.
I shouldn't have given in to the comfort and the blur.
There were things we kept secret after that,
truth we saved for Annie Greensprings, and only spoke for her.
______
For the Real Toads mini-challenge. For anyone who doesn't know, Annie Greensprings was a cheap wine they had in the 70s. I loved the stuff. You kind of had to be there.
hadn't heard of that wine, but there was another cheapo fruity kind my sister always drank. can't remember the name right now, tho.
ReplyDeleteokay, boone's farm was one of them, but there's another one... (getting old sucks...)
ReplyDeleteAnnie Greensprings was quite the pal of mine at one time. My favorite was the apple-y one, like the forbidden fruit that tastes so sweet and which I taste again reading this. Beautiful and bittersweet, Shay.
ReplyDeleteapple berri, lambrusco, riunite. these were inexpensive but tasty
ReplyDeletefloating on a memory… that's what this poem is. We all have these moments as we get older, get transported by something (for me usually a song) and I relive the array of emotions… I love this type of poem.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I really appreciate about your poetry is the attention to little details, which so breathe life into any scene you set. The grasshoppers on the stalks, what the other kids were doing in school, the flash of a blackbird's wing. And between all the details are the emotions, thoughts and bitter-sweet tales of love. What more could one ask of a Sunday morning song?
ReplyDeletei like this escape into the dream world...and reliving those moments
ReplyDelete....
I second Kerry here, I love your attention to details, you create great imagery. Love your stories. <3
ReplyDeletePerfect.
ReplyDeleteThe first two verses took me back to childhood. The rest took me places I remember well.
ReplyDeleteLove the imagery of childhood, the deliciousness of summer, secrets shared and skipping school. Also love how the tone changes slightly in that last verse, the secrets after that kiss.
ReplyDeletedelicious ....
ReplyDeleteAh young sweet love!! Superbly done. :)
ReplyDeleteThe forbidden fruits in love and cheap alcohol.. there were days when we all were young... what a tale you weave... Had not heard of Annie Greensprings .. but I guess some things are not exported (fortunately)...
ReplyDeleteMoody Blue was the 2 dollar wine in my neck of the woods. This is a great slice if the past.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your afterthought, especially. ;)
ReplyDeleteThere are things only wine will speak..love the beauty of this. It brushes me with my own memories.
ReplyDelete****but instead we went down there and talked about everything,
ReplyDeletemost of it ridiculous, but it didn't matter--
we had the day and a buzz and our mood rings stayed cherry red***
Your words drench into my core.
xx
You really do recreate the moment s here in a very vivid and palpable way. The taste of nostalgia--very well done, Shay. k.
ReplyDeletelove this, Shay! we had a crick out back, too. and the girls tended to drink Mad Dog, the grape kind. this is a beautiful snapshot of a heady time.
ReplyDeleteYou have a way of casting spells on us .. this poem certainly does. I love reaching back in time for those memories.
ReplyDelete