Respite

8 years different after school, salty tears dripping down cheeks. Weeding in the sweltering August heat of the family garden. The omnipresent thrumming drone of cicadas, the smell of dirt before an arriving rain. A few hours released from the casual cruelty of adolescents. Sheltered, temporarily hidden in the scratchy verdant bower. Quivering in the occasional breeze, silver queen corn stalks tower. The first time reveling in physical labor as love eating bursting ripe tomatoes and regal ears of corn. Fresh from the stalk heated- by grace of God's sun. Corn silk caught in my teeth White tracks of dried tears replaced by the sweet red seeded juice In retrospect 'twas a canon event for all who grew their food. Bites of juicy red and gold bliss Forever after sought