Lynn Ciesielski: The Camera

mist from the falls
made mom murmur
days disappear like puddles
and time moves like a river
her camera captured moments
but the sight brought her to tears

these times far as rest stops now we are teens
this was to be our last annual trip
me off to college
sis getting married
museums and magnificence
didn't spark us anymore

she tried to keep us from the world
her four girls and dad
birthday parties, just us and
chocolate cake with candles
swept up in smiling photographs

nine months since mom got the camera
braces off, engagement, graduation
this holiday signified a turn
celebration of life and of death
she printed many commemorative stamps

shot us fooling in front of the falls
our laughter soared over and down
she leaned into the rail, that ansel adams still
i thought of folks who tumbled in barrels
torn to shreds then the camera slipped
mom’s eyes melted like popsicles in that july sun

Biographical Note for Lynn Ciesielski: My background is in special education. I have an MS from SUNY College at Buffalo and I taught in city schools for eighteen years. I retired from my career a little over a year ago. Now I spend most of my time enjoying my family, volunteering, and writing and performing poetry. I have been published in Nomad's Choir, Blue Collar Review and SpeedPoet's Zine among others. See Author Index for Poetry for other works by Lynn Ciesielski.