The Stones of Summer 1950s/ memoir by Denise Collins

The Stones of Summer 1950s

1.

The warmth of the sun penetrates my shirt. 
I find my stone from yesterday and patiently 
resume my task. Rock against rock, slowly, 
deliberately, I etch my name on the large, 
flat rock that lies atop one of the three stone walls 
on the farm where we live. Maybe one day, my young 
mind muses…someone will find my name and know 
that I was there.

2.

My older, fair-weather brothers have given the order:
“You can’t play with us today.” Their friends have arrived 
and I have been banished.  It happens often and I understand 
my place. Armed with gloves, a bat and ball, they’ve come 
to play in the small field, where a rough diamond, with 
rocks for bases, competes with the weeds, A perfect day 
for these boys of summer.

3.

Our dog runs through the orchards near our home, flashes 
of his golden coat appearing and disappearing.  His loving, 
loyal heart, races through the rows of apple trees, running 
at top speed to greet us when we jumped off the school bus.  
We took that love for granted. Who etched your name
“Sparky” on the stone windowsill, so long ago?  

4.

The dark, narrow steps lead to the mailbox, a shadowy 
hiding place, lined on each side with stone walls. Three 
narrow steps up to the box that offered us handwritten 
postcards and letters, and maybe, just maybe, on a 
perfect day  the long-awaited decoder ring and pure delight.


///////

Denise Collins is a Hudson Valley writer. She’s published in The Middletown Record and op/eds in The Catholic New York, a newspaper with a readership of 400 churches in the Archdiocese of New York.
The author writes:
I have lived in the beautiful Hudson Valley most of my life where I’ve done volunteer work in our church and for years played guitar with their folk group. I have also participated in prison ministry retreats at area facilities.  I retired from New York State Office of Mental Health where I provided support to the clinical staff.  Along with my husband, Brian, we raised two children and helped care for each of our four grandchildren. I consider that task one of my greatest accomplishments. Over the years, I have pondered life and have often put those thoughts on paper.