"stay" is a charming word in a friend’s

The Weekender

He vacations herein St. Helenavisits favorite childrenradiant, prodigious

practices Tai Chiin mustard field vineyards staining fingernails sun yellow breathessweet sugar breathinto bellies of pregnant grapes swelling our livelihood

dineson spicy cornbreadat Ruthurford Grilllittering his beard with buttered crumbs

tapsto a jazz beatechoing off the Palisadeslike ancient Wappo music

shavesin the rolling-fogsuspended over Flora Springslike a magic trick

napsdeeply beneath barnacled black oaks tinseled with faded lichen

listensto nearby vineyard workers singing Spanish lullabies‘Canciones de mi PADRE’

At nightfall He tucksus in with a coolwarm, luteoussea-air blanket

lightsdaffodil-scented star candlesto temper the darknesssilence the day

And He

listensto the whispered prayers

Of farmersOf winemakersOf laborersOf my child

answering only thosequiet enough to hearhis resonant snores.

He vacations herein St. Helena I set out clean sheetsAnd always ask, ‘Please, stay.’