WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN

Wear the flowery dress my dear 
You know how I like to see it on you
His voice so soft with a teasing smile 
Causing those three lines on his forehead 
To fade like a distant cloud 

As he rocks back and forth 
In that old rocking chair 
Which should of been discarded 
Years ago 
Squeaking to his rhythmic moves 

The aroma of his pipe 
Inoculating the air 
As I lift the window a little higher 
Inhaling slowly with my eyes closed 
The vanilla fragrance that swirls, curves and vanishes 
Before my eyes 

As I opened my eyes 
There they were 
Mom taking a chance to sit on his legs
Wearing that flowery dress that he likes so much 
Not thinking of his frail ninety two year old body 
Or that aged over used rocking chair beneath them
They were in love
And that's all that mattered 

Afraid of the outcome, I yelled out
Mom! Dad!
But on a second glance
That old rocking chair was as empty as the last ten years 
When Mom and Dad passed away 
In an unfortunate accident
When the sun went down.

Wilford Barker.