Carnival of Colors, a poem

Carnival of
Colors

Summer brings the promise of freedom
as gardens thrive, days lengthen, the sun warms the earth
And a carnival of colors blossom from the world right before
our very eyes.

During those summers,
I remember the red syrupy remnants
of watermelon Italian ices
sticky in the crevice of my mouth.
Those were the days I would be homework- free.
Free.

I remember the yellow glow of my flashlight
as I stayed up way past ‘lights out’ time
reading wonderful stories under the covers.
Those were the days I would be bedtime-free.
Free.

I remember the days I would kick back
On the beach with my trusty blue pail
making endless sandcastles
for unknown sand heir and heiresses.
Those were the days I would be care-free.
Free.

I remember the days I marched
through the lime green grass of my own yard
Imagining myself an adventurer in unchartered territory
mapping out hidden treasures
in my own backyard.
Those are the days I would be brave, so fear-free.
Free.

I remember the orange glow of fireflies
As I caught them in the baseball field
across the street from me
and carefully placed them in a jar
for easy viewing.
Those are the days I would be free- falling.
Free.

I remember the violet stains on
The tongues of my little sister and I
as we went to town on pixie sticks and fun dip candy
from the ice cream truck.
Those are the days we were vain free.
Free.

And now that I am a big girl
Those carnival of colors have not faded
But been warmly tucked into a pocket of memory
for safekeeping.
You see, the grand thing about colors---
Is that they never go away.
They simply transpire into new shapes
And forms as you grow old.

-ry