Shadows of Memory

The shadows of faded memory 

A muted melange 

Of mauve and wintergreen 

Dangles in the periphery 

Where mothballs preserve 

My daddy's childhood scene  

I see a geometric afghan 

On the nubby davenport 

A raggedy rug beneath my slippers  

A braided mat by the back porch  

Crystal doorknobs are at eye-level  

A pack of peppermints  

In grandma's purse, I spy  

Grandfather puffs upon a pipe 

The cherry smoke curls up 

Toward the rounded light 

The house is small  

No stairs to climb 

Beyond the blinds, 

A tree outside,  

Dims the room in summertime; 

Across the street 

A field for tag and playing  

"Go, go, go, go, go, go, stop" 

And swings that almost reach into  

The scary-high treetops; 

The backyard's where  

The family tent  

Has been unrolled 

A tepee for the children  

Dusty denim in mustard gold 

My parents sleep inside, 

But I can hear my daddy snore  

We tell tales with flash and fingers  

As shadows on the wall  

Mysteriously roar