Finalist

Starting Sundays

 

A soft touch wakes me from my slumber

“It’s coming,” is all he says.

I follow Dad to the balcony overlooking our familiar swamp,

tiptoeing as if I’m on a secret mission.

He sits down in his old white rocking chair

and I curl up on his lap as I always do.

No words are said; all we do is watch and wait,

wait for that daily miracle to emerge from over the trees.

Beyond the oaks and cypresses lies a quiet pond,

a landing zone for ducks and egrets.

Wind chimes dangle from the gazebo by our pool,

their melody mixing with sounds of water splashing from a nearby fountain.

I yawn and feel rough stubble along my father’s face.

Our breathing is now in unison—up down up down

The sun finally creeps slowly out, illuminating the brilliant sky

and the world has come to life once again.

It’s time to go, but I know that in a week we’ll be back,

back to start another Sunday.

 

---

Haley Binder, age 15

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

LSU Lab School

Teacher: Connie McDonald