A lake called Diamond
The early morning birds sing the sleep from my eyes
I wake slowly as the sun’s fingers reach across my bed
Gently tugging at my sheets
The quiet whisper of the waves beckons me
I secretly climb from my bed
The wood floor threatens to give me away
Family still slumbers peacefully
The screen door is my ally this morning and lets me pass
The morning air shimmers pristine against my face
The woodpile smiles knowingly
I make my way down to the shore across the sandy path
The cool hardness smooth against my shoe tender feet
I pause upon the small wooden bridge that separates reality and dreams
The clear stream gurgles beneath me
Laughingly making its way to the lake
The reeds and grasses bent over, trying to follow
The beach is quiet, yet undisturbed by human presence
Holding its breath in anticipation
The still cool water laps around my toes
Which I wiggle in the sand
A lone duck passes by and nods his hello
I am the only one alive at this moment
Or so I thought in my selfish delusions
The startled frog begs to differ as he jumps in the lake
His bulbous eyes surface and watch me warily
The sheer beauty makes me laugh
I am filled with slow joy
The long slender hill on the other side of the lake reclines
Her reflection in the mirror water makes her whole
Shoulder and hips in languor she lays
The lady of the lake surveys all that is around her
With paddle and canoe, I head to her shadow
Gliding across the water like skeeters on the stream
I reach the crystal clear shallow depths
I can see perfectly the sandy bottom as through liquid glass
A few clams smile up at me, inviting me to play
The temptation pulls at me like a soft current
Reluctantly I head back
A family awakened greets me with friendly hustle and bustle
Grandpa doing his morning exercises over in a corner
The smell of frying eggs and ham leaves me weak with hunger
Sibling rivalry and jests abound
A breakfast table loud and merry
I rush through my food as the lake whispers for my return
Promises of swimming and fishing await
My cradle is an air filled mattress as the Lady rocks me
Her gentle caress soothes my childish worries
The perfect sun dries my skin
My float is overturned with brotherly glee
The game is on with vengeful pleasure
Sitting with rod and reel in the middle of the lake
The rough canvas of the life vest chafes my skin
The clever fish dance around below
Laughing at us as they put seaweed on our hooks
A flash of red on the beach from upturned mattress
Signals the end to our mamba with bass and trout
I think of the bonfire we’ll have this night
Roasted marshmallows, hotdogs, and mosquitoes
Tales like smoke will drift and fill the starry skies
The sun slowly sinks behind the Lady and she disappears
The melancholy song of the loon echoes across the water
Singing the end of another joyful day
On a lake called Diamond
