Walking early, an old man
On the corner by the bank:
Pudgy like myself,
But older, moving slow—

Three-greats-back,
My grandmother was
His grandfather’s sister—
We grew up knowing this,
And the story of his grandmother’s
Return from the dead
(A priesthood-healing miracle),
Was a fundamental story
In both our faiths--

And we greeted warmly,
And we spoke of family
(His wife’s niece
Married to my wife’s brother),
And of Camp Loll,
Scene of our last meeting,
And closed with that mental note
Of next year’s fiftieth class reunion--

Neither of us live here now,
But home once more--
For Peach Days.

09/07/2019

Author's Note: Peach Days is the harvest festival of Brigham City, Utah. I've only missed it three times in sixty-seven years.

Posted on 09/20/2019
Copyright © 2024 Leonard M Hawkes