"stay" is a charming word in a friend’s
DESCRIPTION
dines on spicy cornbread at Ruthurford Grill littering his beard with buttered crumbs practices Tai Chi in mustard field vineyards staining fingernails sun yellow shaves in the rollingfog suspended over Flora Springs like a magic trickTRANSCRIPT
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.’