Poem: Thirty Five Years Later

Thirty five years later

Sunday night on the road

 the very same road

 traveled many times.

Glow of the dashboard lights

 on the passenger window

Reminds me of childhood

 riding home from visiting Grammy

 at the River.

Bamboo fishing poles, Publix,

 blue flowered couch, crochet hooks,

 starlight mints, red rabbit's foot,

 seafood and comic books.

Laying in my Mom's lap

My tired head on her soft shoulder

The comfort from her warmth

Her loving embrace lulling me

 into a state of stillness.

Quiet glances at my Dad's reflection

 above the lights as he held the wheel

 speaking to his love.

As she answered,

 her words vibrated through my little body.

Their exchanges were loving

 and they became a part of me.

Recollections of study dates

 and melodies that took them back in time

 to their lives before a carful of kids.

My gentle Mom

My strong Dad

His eyes on the road ahead

 making me feel safe and protected.

 the glow

 the darkness

 stars twinkling in the sky

 and the man in the moon.

50s music on the turn dial of the radio

 round air vent aimed to the backseat

 of the station wagon

 dark green with fake wood panels.

Five years old in my winnie pooh footie pajamas

Safest place in the car

 front seat in my Mom's lap

 brothers in the back

 side by side

 like comrades

 on the lookout

 for those red lighted towers

 to us- Batman's secret hideout

 not so secret

But childhood is magical

 we believed

 we imagined

 we dreamed

We were safe, loved and on our way home.

Seems like yesterday

 but now the man above the glow I see in the window

 is my husband

 the boys in the back are my own

 Same stars, same moon.

I am the Mom

Blessed to have a man

 that fills the reflection my Dad left behind.

 Strong, yet gentle.

 Sentimental and focused on the road ahead

No matter where it takes us

 it will be magical.

Laurie Barone 1-11-2011