The Cabin

A little bit o' something I've been working on lately.

The Cabin

For fifteen yeas they sat
on the porch for two weeks every July.
They watched the children swim, catch frogs, or skip stones.
Occasionally, they would pull on their swimsuits,
and throw a child off the end of the pier.
Sometimes, they would start the old orange boat
and try to teach someone to water-ski.

After year sixteen, only two kids returned.
Now they didn't need supervision while they were swimming,
and often left after a brief weekend visit.
Two years later, it was just the youngest.
Quiet now, that the others were gone.

Later, when the kids were only home for Christmas,
they started coming in autumn.
He said the fishing was better.
She said it was nice to see the fall colors.
They would still sit on the porch,
no longer donning their suits.
Marveling at the grey lake and vivid trees.

Sometimes, though, a boat would float past,
with a little one in a life preserver,
or they’d hear a shout from up the lake,
and the scene would change before their eyes.
A vivid blue lake, noise on their own shore,
and three little ones standing on the edge of the shore
Each daring the others to jump in first.