Stains

Keeping the grand-kids
leaves its marks

their enthusiasm unbound
their happiness infectious
spilling over like milk cups
knocked off the table

there is peanut butter
the most popular of stains
smudged into the table cloth
sculpted kisses

ketchup leaks
splotch the kitchen floor
splattered like Pollock art
somehow they missed their plates

crumbs of crackers and chips and
assorted food
leave trails of debris under their chars
lost remains of lunch

fact is
their stay leaves us stained

their happiness and pure joy
spread randomly as mustard marks
into our memories

and when sad goodbyes
and driveway waves
leave us standing
in the empty silence

we still see their smiling faces
around the kitchen table
hear echoes of their joyous laughter

their growing personalities
forever ingrained into the fabric of our lives

the love of grand-kids
is indelible

nothing can
wash it away.



© d.knape June 7, 2016
More "Once Upon A Line" - Light verse and poetry by d.knape
Related Topics: Columns | Texas Towns | Texas