for the color blue

yesterday was a perfect day for traveling
to a mother’s day luncheon
at a lakeside restaurant
with my family

the excursion will be remembered
for the lush rolling hills of velvet grass
on which the spring calf
were feeding

sneaking behind mom’s house like a kid
to smoke

how the kentucky red clay beneath our feet
nosy bumble bees
and swimming-by surly bass
seemed relieved
i forgave my father
for his death

but mostly

for the color blue
the sunshine turns my sons’ eyes
when they’re smiling