Summer Lovin’ at Mt. Baker Park
by Aviona Creatrix Rodriguez Brown
Mount Baker Park, filled with laughter
Countless hours of my youth-
Watchful eyes-
music and handmade tacos-
Bottomless, butt-i-ful, whiny babies.
We daydream and wonder where the planes and cars are going to, and coming from.
As cold envelops my toes burying them into the wet sand for warmth,
I wonder, from where did this water come?
Who else stood in it?
What has been washed clean?
What does this water carry?
Whose strengths and weaknesses are being washed over me?
Whose hopes and dreams threaten to drag me under?
{A weight I can’t seem to escape.}
The sun cascades upon me- Kissing me with warmth and joy,
{releasing sorrows pent up inside.}
A glimpse-
A glimmer- {a mirage of what our life could
be without the darkness
that lurks at home.}
The boardwalk-
not infinite, attacks me with a splinter jumping off its end.
Cascading downward into the depths
Surprised by the glimmering light reaching deep within the blue.
Following me below the surface-
sinking to the bottom of our Lake, Washington.
Hold on to the quiet. Hold on to the calm.
“Air” my lungs scream but I just want a break from it all.
Release. Break the surface. Breathe.
The noise comes crashing over with the waves of a passing boat.
The beach, littered with other family units- smiles galore
But a thought lingers as I reach the beach-
Could it be they too are only temporary employees in this Sherrade?
Does the joy ever reach home?
Is all of this only present for this sandy spell?
Is home a place we all fear returning to?
Instead, you find us all here, at Mount Baker Beach.
Music blending making a mushy cacophony,
horns beeping on and off beat.
Past the sun's final wink
over the trees.
{Home}
{to the sorrow-}
{to the (d)trauma-}
{Sand preferred to
{eggshells}
Back again,
Tomorrow,
You can find us here,
sun-kissed and red.
