I remember br Hot summer days br with tarred sidewalks br sucking at ones feet br The dusty shopkeepers br standing in their quiet stores br The silence allowing their wares br to speak br br I remember br Long spring nights br Baseball, basketball, football br Volleyball, tag, badminton br Chasing up and down the street br until the sun drowned in twilight br and mothers called br out supper br br I remember br The ice rink br Laying planks in the backyard br flooding the rolled out plastic br Gliding in and out the spotlight br on dark snowy nights br to the old fashioned radio’s br Gershwin tunes br br I remember br Quiet evenings br Mom’s sewing machine whirring br making dresses, shirts, and handkerchiefs br Dad’s pencil scratching br a new house, apartment, office block br Drawing blueprint dreams br of someday br br I remember br Riding in our old blue Chevy br to the local motel br one unremarkable night br Coming home to an empty house br and Mom playing the piano br song after song to silence br her despair.