Tiptoes

Summer
I am eight
At Grandma’s
House standing
On my tiptoes to
See what my uncles
Put into a wooden tub
Or small barrel a mix of
Rock salt and dry ice then
An inner metal tub with straw
Berries and cream turning a
Hand crank to turn the tub
In the barrel round and
Round smiling talking
Taking turns turning
Laughing until the
Tub is withdrawn
Placed on table
And ice cream
Ladled out in
Bowls each
With straw
Berries on
A hot day
Hard to
Resist
Even
For
Grandma.
I recall their
Faces voices
My sibs around
Me and the scene
Repeated over the
Years with more little
Cousins growing up now
Adults I keep remembering
As kids their voices less piping
But still recognizable their faces
Now grown up though I still see
Their child’s face sometimes
In their kids as well each of
Them eager for the straw
Berry ice cream each a
New addition to our
Family unique but
Still part of our
Group some
Still on tip
Toes at
Life.