Childhood

Patricia Phillips
EVWP Summer 2009


Pancakes

Lovingly you let me mix
The flour, sugar, butter, eggs
After church on Sunday

Lovingly you let me climb
In front of the stove
On top of the chair

Lovingly you showed me how
Bubbles must be all over
Before I could flip

Lovingly we placed them
On the plate with flowers
One of the only things left
From your mother


Decorating

Remember the cake
When you let us
Cover the two layers
In frosting
When we piped all the flowers
Three inches high
When we decorated with little girl
Joy and style
When without
Complaint or word
You ate a whole piece


Station Wagon

Please, Mom, stop right here
Oh, I don’t know
With sweet pleading faces—
Please let us today

She gazes back in the mirror
Alright

Scrambling,
Beaming,
Giggling with glee

Unlatching our belts
We come to a halt
Back we go
Climbing the seat

Are you ready?

Up, up, up
She steers the car along the drive
That rises like a mountain

Laughing and tumbling
Free


List, what list?

Dad will bring us
To the store
Mom will stay
At home today
Because
Oreos
Sugar cubes
Ice cream
Candy
Will all be
In the cart
When Dad takes us
To the store