One Perfect Day

Past cottage piers, past the tiny store and

public beach, we finally rowed to a cattail

marsh.  Water-lily pads covered the surface,

our oars swishing through a forest of stems. 

Dragonflies swooped overhead and crickets

droned under the hot sun.  A couple horses

grazing near shore huffled and shook their

heads before galloping away as we drew up

to land our boat.

Clambering out, then pulling all together

on the thick rope to get our craft safely up

onto the grassy bank, we headed uphill to

collect acorns and buckeyes under the shade

of waffling oak and locust leaves.  Lunch

was bologna sandwiches and cherry kool-aid

under the trees. And homemade sugar cookies.

Rowing home in turns, leaving time for

an afternoon swim, then fishing off the pier

in late light until we heard,  Come up now

for supper, children, we shared that grand

day of play that ended with big scoops

of vanilla ice cream kept cool in dry ice,

tossed at dusk into the lake to fog and hiss

in the night mist with satisfying mystery.