THE FAMILY

At NanaPa's


The swallows dip and soar
Catching the sunset with their wing tips
Bathing the cool canyon breeze across their backs
Below the water burns with amber
The air is sage smooth
Soft with evening
The children sit by the waters edge
Drinking the sweet canyon wind
Waiting and wiggling
They have come
To learn the deep magic mystery of fish
To bait and cast and reel and net
From these wide strong shoulders
They will learn a fisherman's savored patience
From these soft blue eyes
They will learn to love the sunset, the swallows and the wind

They have come to garden
To dig the rich good earth
They have come to plant and hoe
To weed and reap
They have come to know the soil
To climb the trees
To braid the daisies
From these wide strong shoulders
They will learn to give the world their best
From these soft blue eyes
They will learn to smell the roses

They have come to haunt the Big Soft House
To scale the stairs
To search its secrets
They have come to feel the clock tick
They have come to breathe the books
They have come to beg for stories
To snuggle up for songs
From these wide strong shoulders
They will learn the length of knowledge
From these soft blue eyes
They will learn to create, to think, to dream


They have come to investigate their own roots
To place themselves in the scheme of years
They have come to feel for yesterday
To help them mold a clear tomorrow
They have come to search for foundation
In a scary, shaky world
From these wide strong shoulders
They will learn the firmness of commitment
From these soft blue eyes
They will learn the peace of faith

They have come to build memories
To paint pieces of their minds with images
They will hold to their hearts and treasure
Forever
They have come to learn life
They have come with large, watching eyes
They have come to take what they see here
And sift some of it into themselves
From these wide strong shoulders
They will learn of contentment
From these soft blue eyes
They will learn of joy

The children sit by the waters edge
Drinking the sweet canyon wind
Wiggling and waiting
They have come to learn
Fifty years of love



©Edwina Peterson Cross

(For My Parents Zetta Benson Peterson & Dr. Edwin L. Peterson
On the Occasion on their Golden Wedding Celebration )