Labor of Love
Rushing to finish
concrete before it sets
on a hot, dry August morning,
the drone of the cement mixer
laboring to turn out a single concrete pad.
Twelve feet by twenty,
a terrace on the side of the pavilion
we built the year before,
a place for family gatherings, reunions.
One more draw
for that long drive to visit
your retirement home in the country.
To see you and hear the joy
and laughter of those gatherings.
Our last visit thirty years in the past,
that pavilion still stands,
different voices,
children, in the home
that once was yours.
If I were to go now, I know
I would hear the same laughter,
the faint ring of hammers,
the drone of that mixer,
and know that I still miss you.
The optional prompt for Day 4 of National/Global Poetry Writing Month is to write a poem that is “about something abstract – perhaps an ideal like ‘beauty’ or ‘justice,’ but which discusses or describes that abstraction in the form of relentlessly concrete nouns and adjectives.” This definitely has concrete!
rivrvlogr 
Some memories stay with us…beautiful poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do, and their value grows.
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, it truly does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jazz!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic, Ken!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Em.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poignant.
LikeLike
Oh to be able to write like this on a daily basis.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. You are very kind.
LikeLike
The great gift of age is our memories. As you write, they come with scent & sound, don’t they! Nice write . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Peter.
LikeLike
This is beautiful, Ken. Memories. . .and yes, concrete. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Merril. Even when I helped my father with projects, they were family visits, and sometimes those were like adventures for my two sons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully poignant poem, Ken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Betty. As easy as this piece was to write, it was hard for me to read it afterwards. Sometimes that’s the price of good memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know just what you mean…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: NaPoWriMo / GloPoWriMo 2018 – Day 4 – “Tonight Belongs To You” by David Ellis | toofulltowrite (I've started so I'll finish)
Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike