We stumble into Dunkin Donuts
with a desire for a good cup of Joe.
He cracks a joke with
the girls behind the counter and
they smile, their day
becomes a little sunnier.
We eat breakfast sandwiches,
I watch the faces of those I love,
rubbing sleep from their eyes.
A good feeling washing over me.
We converse on the way to Cape Cod,
small whimsical buildings,
American flags flying in the wind .
A memorial for Kennedy and the Korean war,
I'm proud to be an American.
Unlike my children that were born into it,
I don't take it for granted.
I feel privileged,
a fire burning inside of me.
We find a restaurant that won
the best clam chowder
twelve times in a row.
Everyone is chatting
while waiting.
My love is like a little boy
as he tastes his childhood
in fried clams.
He smiles and voices gratitude
that we can
and so many can't.
At that moment I love him all over again,
I love them,
I love him,
my moment complete.
Meet us here http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.
Meet us here http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.
what a lovely moment ayala.. your gratitude shines from every line...love him tasting his childhood in fried clams...i'm so glad that childhood has a taste..and for each of us a bit different..
ReplyDeleteThank you, Claudia . The look on his face was priceless :)
DeleteThis is beautifully written to convey the feelings of an intense and important moment that seems so everyday--they need to be remembered and treasured like this poem does so well. Loved it, ayala.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joy. For me these everyday moments are ones that I never take for granted. Happy you loved it. :)
DeleteBeautiful and loving! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly :)
Deleteyou had donuts for breakfast, and clam chowder for lunch...ugh...i think ur missing something in this tale...
ReplyDeleteHa :) we had breakfast sandwiches and clam chowder :)
DeleteThis is beautiful. Your poems almost all bring me tears, for their beauty and purity.
ReplyDeleteThank you... I feel honored that my poems make you feel this way.
DeleteYou write with such openness, which is the quality that makes your poetry so attractive. Great expression here. Those of us who were born to it (and take it for granted) should heed words like these more often. Fine job.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve. Sometimes people take for granted what a great country we live in.
DeleteAwww...you and your family are so well blessed. To have and to share such love is so wonderful and yet, you are so aware of how lucky and blessed you are. Some aren't. I love my adopted country too, like you I don't take it for granted, I see it as a privilege that I was honoured to be give citizenship here and consider myself lucky too :)
ReplyDeleteI have gone through struggles in my life that help me realize how blessed I am. Thank you, Bren. So happy you feel lucky too. :)
DeleteNice. We are privileged here. Too much at times, but I'm grateful to live here.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Myrna. I am so grateful :)
Deletemy love is like a little boy....love that...and that you recognize it...and that you dont take for granted the country and what it has given you....all very natural write...love it ayala....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brian. It's great to recognize it and to see it. ... I feel such a privilege to be an American and to have all the freedoms that we have.
DeleteLovely Ayala, your love for your family always moves me...:)
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Louise :)
DeleteDon't you love those moments of awareness when we realize what is good? I enjoyed sharing yours and it made me stop, look outside at the trees and the skies and all that's right even when life is crazy at times. I applaud your gratitude, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Victoria. :) so glad you took a moment to stop and take it all in. :)
DeleteThis just bounced! So very well observed and heartfelt
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stu :)
DeleteAwesome write, Ayala! Beautifully put!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Charles :)
Delete"My love is like a little boy
ReplyDeleteas he tastes his childhood
in fried clams." so beautiful Ayala.
Thank you, Laura :)
DeleteI like that you treasure your blessings everyday, that you don't take things for granted. Simple things like sharing a meal together can be everything ~ Thanks for sharing your love and blessings ~
ReplyDeleteThank you, Grace. I appreciate it. :)
DeleteWhat a lovely story, Ayala. Appreciating the comfort in our everyday moments and praising your own gift as you bring to light the fact that "so many can't". Wonderful and honest reflection. Thanks so much for your visit. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Archna. :)
DeleteLoving what you have and letting it/them bring you joy, can't go wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Pat :)
DeleteWhat a joy to be in New England this summer. Your poem took me there - to the Cape, to the lovely diners, to my favorite place (Hemenways (not Hemingway) in Providence, RI - truly soup of joy, to the lobster places in Boston - they say this is the year to get lobster - best prices ever. Have a wonderful time. I'm with you in spirit and love your poem! It ooooooozes LOVE.
ReplyDeleteI saw signs everywhere and it did seem to be great prices for lobster.... I am back home now but I can't wait till I return there. Thank you, you are so sweet.
Deletea wonderful sentiment of everyday from someone who's days differ just a bit from her own children -
ReplyDelete"I'm proud to be an American.
Unlike my children that were born into it,
I don't take it for granted" -
but i think, sincerely, think, the things to not take so much for granted will become evident to them as they age, and then, that's when they'll remember this gifts of moments you bring to them
best wishes ayala ;-)
They do feel pride and maybe it's unfair of me to say but I just feel like I know the burning desire of wanting to be an American and finally feeling such deep gratitude when I became a citizen .
DeleteIt's good to reflect on what goodness that are with us now. Little things are actually big things - they become big when we appreciate them. You made awareness a virtue! Nicely done ayala!
ReplyDeleteHank
Thank you, Hank. Yes, the little things do become the big things :)
Deletethis is beautiful, ayala. sounds like a perfect moment. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanna. :)
DeleteThis is a touching poem, Ayala. I too am proud to be an American, even though I was born one. I personally think everyone should be proud of their country of citizenship. I love the moments you shared here. It sounds like a wonderful family vacation!
ReplyDeleteIt was great and it flew by. Thank you, Mary :)
DeleteSuch tender moments... I especially like:
ReplyDeleteMy love is like a little boy
as he tastes his childhood
in fried clams.
Thank you, Laurie. It was a sweet moment :)
DeleteBeautiful writing about a beautiful moment!
ReplyDeleteThank you, MZ :)
DeleteGreat sweetness on display.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karin :)
DeleteSo great to hear sentiments like patriotism coming to the fore. It happens less often these days, I fear.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dave :)
DeleteWonderful sentiments and experiences shared with an artist's eye.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim . Sweet of you to say :)
Delete" I'm proud to be an American.
ReplyDeleteUnlike my children that were born into it,
I don't take it for granted.
I feel privileged,
a fire burning inside of me. "
I am proud also, but your words remind my heart
of my grandparents who came to America.
I am proud that you are my fellow citizen.
Thank you for this excellent poem;
and for kindly finding time
to leave a good comment at my blog.
Have a Sweet Weekend -
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
<(-'.'-)>
> < } } ( ° >
Thank you, Cloudia. I appreciate your kind thoughts.
DeleteAh yes, to know our treasures is everything!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is :)
Deletelovely expression of love :)
ReplyDeletehttp://sushmita-smile.blogspot.in
Thank you :)
DeleteSuch a perfect capture of a beautiful, ordinary day, moment. Love drives us through this life, just for moments like these.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kelly. It's truly a blessing.
DeleteLove with capital letters is or should be like theis... loving him all over again... that's so beautiful -sigh!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dulce. Sweet of you :)
DeleteOh, what a beautiful poem, and a lovely day's experience. You really do understand about the little things making up the stuff of life.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary. :) true :)
DeleteIt's the simple things in life that make it all worthwhile, the everyday when a simple smile can mean so much. You always seem to remind us of that in your poetry!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Di. Sweet of you to say :)
DeleteYou always paint a vivid picture with your words, and this one is full of joy :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leslie :)
Deletesuch a wonderful tone here, such a great job with the imagery, really made the lines to life. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you, Fred :)
DeleteOh, ayala, this is so lovely. "He tastes his childhood in fried clams" oh, yes. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteReally lovely. (I feel like I'm right there... invisibly, of course.)
ReplyDeleteThank you, happy you enjoyed it :)
Deleteoh, sigh. This captures those precious, perfect moments of family when we know we're complete...connected to our past and future - yet wholly in the moment. And I love the notion of a taste of childhood...that's got me thinking!
ReplyDeleteThat day was just that, complete with those I love. A perfect moment in my life :) I can say one word that describes it - gratitude :)
ReplyDelete