this shirt

this shirt is a flannel ombre, a gift from my mother
it reminds me of her father, my grandfather
who wears plaids like this shirt
I can still recall his scent and the roughness of his hands
the strength of his arms when he'd wrap them around me
and I'd bury my face in his shirt
I remember his smile and the sound of his laughter
when he'd hold on to my fingers with a grip so tight
and the more I'd wiggle the tighter his grip became
but when I'd stop trying to get away
he'd relax allowing me to escape
I loved listening to his voice
I love him, and this shirt
thinking of him, always makes me think of the island
where I spent so many summer vacations
playing with my barbie dolls and her camper on the beach
diving for clams with the boys
floating down shore in innertubes
sitting alone in an innertube
at the end of the dock watching the sunset
and watching the clouds that looked like waves in the sky
going fishing, just grampa, daddy and me in an old boat house
where I proudly caught more fish
than they did when they took the boys out
earlier that day and had left me behind
going for rides in grampa's boat, feeling the wind on my face
exploring at the rock quarry
riding their old bikes up and down the dirt road
watching the ships as they passed, listening to their fog horns
and his apple pancakes recipe has now become my specialty
the island holds very fond childhood memories for me
funny where just a flannel shirt can take you
all these feelings and memories
come alive whenever I wear
this shirt

3.19.97