First Memories

Our name as One.
My earliest memories are of my sister.
I am barely old enough to pronounce her name,
but I know to hold tightly to her canary yellow blouse
We travel the speed of light on the back of her banana seat.
My excitement rushes out of me-
Honeybees fleeing their hive and I wanted to go faster!
As we sped along with the urgency that is always youth
The concrete beneath our tires glistened with jewels
as the world was a blur –
a step behind our buoyant energy.
Love grew like children in the summer air
A bond sealed for eternity
It is the nature of brother to sister
The spirited oath of possibility
It was the moment when our names were called as one
April&Charlie, one word, no spaces.

Grandmother calling from the porch,
‘April&Charlie’ to come and eat.

Mom and dad wondering where we were hiding
‘April&Charlie’, come out of there!

Two children forever connected
Where one stopped, the other began.
Now, in retrospect,
I sit, tickled.




Youth is beauty
Youth is beauty
It is the ignorant bliss of first kisses
Youth is running through fields
And singing songs free of burden-
Popsicles on back porches
Wild noises like horses and tigers
The endless search for pirate treasure
The constant yearning of cracker-jacks & carnivals

Like California beaches in May –
An ever moving tide
Sea shells and sand smoothed rocks
Youth is the heavens spilt down
to form endless wonder
In the eyes of a child
To be viewed by mother.
But mostly youth is beauty