THE RAINBOW VEST

an incident, looking back, memories

THE RAINBOW VEST

 

“My how she’s grown…..”

as my photo book lays out before my aged eyes

so many fun beach days…..i remember…..”

 

Her swim vest

like a little fireball afloat at 5 years old

in a vast sea

pink hues tally with her rounded cheeks

blue hues the color of her expressive eyes

yellow ones to meet the sun-drenched beach

 

Each hot summer day

little hand in big one

she and dad explore the beach

rummage for shells of all shapes

colored glass of half-broken bottles

dead sea creatures, stinky seaweed and driftwood

 

They draw near the ocean with prudence

toes creep into bubbly waves

a squishy bottom

tiny fish nip at their toes

 

Deep to her waist, she squeals with glee

splashes her dad who laughs like a barking dog

the two seem small in a massive sea

splatter, slosh, squirt

all pleasures of little ones

 

One particular day

dark, ominous clouds approach swiftly

prior to harsh booms of thunder

strikes of lightening, crackle

abstracts of the night sky

 

Little one screams for father

he instantly scoops her up out of the black water

as he lumbers up the hill with little one in arms

lightening fractures

remarkable show of the cosmos

they sink in the sand and survive the horror

stare at each other and crack up

 

“I wish to close the photo book now……

I cannot speak of that frightening incident”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[no tell writer]

This is so wonderful, i love the way memories are. They make me smile

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you so much.

[Ken Simm.]

This is cram full of things that I like. Especially the irony in the last line. A true tribut to memory and the way we choose to remember.

[Betty Hermelee]

I'm glad you enjoyed it...Thank for reviewing.
Best, Betty

[jacob erin-cilberto]

ah but you already spoke of it...and scary as it was, it was one of the many incidents that brought the speaker closer to her father...made her feel secure and safe around him.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you dear J. for your review; yes she spoke of it,but she hadn't seen the photos in a long time; remembering the incident at her old age now made her very sad. Best,
B.

[John the Baptist]

Interesting how some memories stick while others are lost. Anything accompanied by deep feeling is frozen in place and can be summoned many years later. The violence of the lightning described here imprinted itself deeply on the child's mind and thus is easily recalled. This is why people who experience traumas as children can be permanently scarred by them.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you John for your thoughtful review.
Best, B

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Betty... I would cover my Grandma with Sand...
and then later we would walk by the Waves and twirl our toes.
Seagulls would fly close by and we would laugh and sigh.
Beach memories are stored in ou Mind. Enjoyed your memory.
truly, Pat

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Pat for your lovely review...it was a happy one this time! All the best,
B.

[Chris Shaw]

Things that frighten us as children tend to stick. This was a lovely piece of reflection which went further. It triggered memories of a not so nice experience. That must have been one terrifying storm for that book to be closed so quickly Betty.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Chris for your spot on review. It's interesting how a fine day can turn ugly and horrifying, but thankfully they survived and could laugh about it. Those are definitely memories...
All the best,
B.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Wonderful write B, but it feels so mysterious with its ending. It left me feeling something more was missing. Also reminded me how awful seaweed smells after some time laying on the beach. Thank you for sharing your work.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you dear friend for your reviews! I didn't want them to die at the end, so they live out this terrible storm and I guess they were so frightened, all they could do was giggle about it, they were alive!!!
Take care,
Best, B.