Turning Pages
by Odin Roark

Idyllic backdrops of painted cardboard,
Faithfully serving camera atop tripod,
Flashing forever-pictures,
Only a nickel!
Three for a dime!

Free parasols for mothers,
Rowboats for little boys in sailor suits,
Princess castles for little girls in lace,
Captured moments waiting
To become scrapbook treasures.

Grandmothers and granddads
Forever leaf through them again and again.
Glued memories,
Creating gratified smiles.

How memorable,
The Fairground pleasures.
The two-headed calf,
The bearded lady dancing,
Snake oil bottles flying off the shelf,
Everyone finding rewards,
Only five cents.

Aged summer twilights,
Pages of yesterdays’ hope and trust
Fluttering atop the lap of remembrance.
Rocking chair memories on the porch,
Sipping fresh squeezed lemonade now and then,
Stargazing in between,
Musing through aspirations of childhood,
The reality they found a bit different,
The cherished rewards they still feel.

Holding hands,
They listen for whispering fireflies
Romancing fluttering moths,
Sharing light’s ever-present longing,
Knowing radiance remains a special bargain
For those accepting thankful age needs
Simply as reminisced luminance of youth.

Tonight’s leafing of pages,
Continues the trust that night will come again
On the porch of their dreams,
The place where they turn yesterday’s recollections,
Trusting tomorrow will deliver more to be remembered,
As long as they keep a nickel in their pocket.