The Vocation of an Afternoon Sun

The Vocation of an Afternoon Sun

 

 

It was a summer of preadolescent years.

I was playing hopscotch on a cement walk

as grandmother preened the weeds

of Hydrangea’s in Gatsby pink.

 

Mrs. Potts was raking leaves to burn curbside.

A sweetness of grapes permeated from her backyard vine

intercepting my stream of consciousness,

as mother’s litany of frustration could be heard

over a just waxed floor.

 

I impetuously threw for a seven,

then hopped barefoot towards

an upturned bottle cap

as the pendulum sway of a ponytail

snared the vocation of an afternoon sun.

Reviews

[Ana Papaya]

that's a magic moment you captured with the ponytail swinging.
I love this

[Cassie]

Your choice of words...very rich, i love

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you so much, Cassie!

[Pete]

quite a lasting, impressionable scene you paint for us with your well-crafted words. one cannot help but smile while reading - can feel the warmth and brightness of the light you shed. this is the best stuff of life that we need to bottle and keep with us always to take a sip when we need to ... :)

[Kelly Scheppers]

This is the stuff of life that rejuvenates my soul, to write what I am writing today. I couldn't have said it better. Thank you, Pete!

[john l smith]

This is awfully nice
Brings back so many memories

[Kelly Scheppers]

I so appreciate that, John. Thank you so much!

[Beccy]

The joys of childhood are so fleeting; and even more so it seems today, as the adult world closes in ever faster.

A quite lovely poem, that perfectly encapsulates our time in the sun. And that last verse in particular is utter bliss.

Beccy.

[Kelly Scheppers]

...thank you, Beccy. I deeply appreciate that!

[UnderTheDeadPoetTree]

Simply beautiful, captures the hectic bliss of childhood wonderfully!

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you!

[C. M. Miller]

Summer - 1968 - Got my brand new Schwinn Stingray, 3-speed, banana seat. Perfect. LIke this poem. Good to look back at the good times amidst those turbulent 60's.

[Kelly Scheppers]

And kids today think they have it made? Our bikes ruled, and so did those long afternoons of playing outside with all the neighborhood kids. We were left to our own devices, and man, did we have fun! Thanks, Charles!

[Dave]

Kelly - my goodness what sweet memories of childhood. Thank you for the reminder.
The playground with its' swings, seesaws, checkers with friends on the table. Playing catch and dodgeball.
Oh my! all the wonderful "work" we endured as children.
Take care - Dave

[Kelly Scheppers]

If only we would have embraced those times a little longer, and not have been so anxious to grow up! Thank you so much, Dave!

[Dave]

Kelly - you make it sooooooo easy to say nice things.
Take care - Dave

[Alfred Kukitz]

Kelly, I wanted to embrace this poem into the heart of my soul. I wrote a hopscotch poem about a boy playing a girl, who cheated, she stepped on a line and lied. The boy felt an affinity of the lie with his father's struggle with the Vietnam war.

regards,
al

[Kelly Scheppers]

Please tell me the title, I'd love to read it! Thank you, Al.

[Alfred Kukitz]

Sorry Kiddo! It's long gone.

[barleygirl]

This is delicious! precious! focused! evocative! WOW! I haven't read something this simple yet intensely felt in a long time. You are the best at picking the perfect details & dusting them with shimmering sugar before you create a display of imagery & sensation that's just enuf & never an extra tidbit more. It's amazing how you do that. You completely nailed this memory for anyone who ever did it! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Kelly Scheppers]

A thousand thank you's for a most beautiful review, Margie! (((Kelly)))