At The Lake Pantoum

The little ones play in the shallows,
colored buckets filled with sand and shells,
splashing, summer shrieks and giggles.
The adults by the shoreline, all eyes lakeward.

Colored buckets filled with sand and shells,
pouring, patting, forming castles on the beach.
The adults by the shoreline, all eyes lakeward.
Empty canoe floats near the reeds across the bay.

Pouring, patting, forming castles on the beach
in this eden of their childhood summer.
Empty canoe floats near the reeds across the bay.
It's Sanders, I heard. They're looking for him now.

In this eden of their childhood summer,
all lake, and loons, and campfires, unaware.
It's Sanders, I heard. They're looking for him now.
Flashing lights of sheriff's car, a clutch of fear.

All lake, and loons, and campfires, unaware,
tonight they will dance with fireflies.
Flashing lights of sheriff's car, a clutch of fear.
A mourning rain sweeps across the water.

Tonight they will dance with fireflies,
splashing, summer shrieks and giggles.
A mourning rain sweeps across the water.
The little ones play in the shallows.

Mary Ellen Seidel
5/6/2002