On the warm summer days
And into the autumn
Mabel holds court in her chair
On her wide front porch
And rocks and rocks.
She does puzzles in pencil
And watches the people
On their way to the beach
Or home again, with chairs,
Towels, wagons with children,
Teenagers in bikinis, and
Older folk with canes or walkers.
And she rocks and rocks.
Friends call to her from
The street and stop to chat.
“Danny Boy” plays on a CD.
Children and grandchildren
And great grandchildren,
Nieces and in-laws and friends
Join her for cold drinks,
Conversation and laughter.
And she rocks and rocks
While she drinks her cocktail
(diluted with a little water)
And joins in the hilarity.
She doesn’t get around much,
But the world comes to her,
The lady mayor of Pennacook Park,
As she rocks and rocks and rocks
On her wide front porch.
Barbara Peckham, a retired teacher, has lived on Martha’s Vineyard since 2001. In 2011 she published a book of poetry, “A Jar of Summer.”
