Remember

by Elizabeth Honbarrier

Remember the lingering sweet scent of pine

That met us right at their front door;

Those faded gray portraits that hung in a line,

Our shoes that we’d leave on the floor.

Remember the swing set he built in the yard,

And the tree that towered above

The fence on the hill that would carefully guard

The garden that bloomed with her love.

Remember the sippy cups in that one drawer, 

The fridge all covered in photos;

The timeout chair that sat by the basement door,

And the breeze from open windows.

Remember the lamps we turned on with a touch,

The piano we never played;

That old family photo that we loved so much,

The chairs where each morning they prayed.

Remember the basement where stories were told,

The painting with new worlds behind;

The wood marble machine that never got old,

The hiders the seekers would find.

Remember the playroom where we’d spend the night,

The butterflies hung on the wall;

The endless supply of old toys in our sight,

And the night light out in the hall.

Remember those days which have left us at last,

With only memories, yours and mine;

I know we should move on from that which has passed,

But remember the scent of pine?