How often do you visit a place?
Know someone well enough they invite you over?
Twice?
To meet children?
Parents?
Sit in chairs?
Around the table?
Talk and listen?
It’s not usual for us.
But it happened in O’ahu.
That magical place.
Where leaves grow larger than you.
Lime trees sprout thorns to protect its bounty.
Roosters, egrets, pigeons get along.
Rainbows fill the sky.
Dogs of every variety swim the Pacific.
And families are hospitable.
In that old way.
That I remember.
When conversation was valued.
You entertained with children present.
So they could learn social skills.
A rare gift to old friends.
To honor us in your abode.
Witnessing three generations.
Where abundant fruits overflowed.
Lynn Benjamin
March 18, 2023
