Ever the Sweetness

Memories palpable as
pistachio ice cream
and a Great Dane named Clorox,
smooth black coat patched
with large white splotches
on a day in late summer
before school closes in
and we ride over New Hampshire roads
winding down a Cape Cod vacation

A photo clicks in the farewell driveway
blond braided pony tail
caresses the nape of my neck
as I kiss the long snout of Clorox
then wave you good-bye
sweet memories asleep since then
 awaken a new century later
in this commuter train cocoon
chugging on rails toward home

—M. Barbara Duris, Lowell, MA