Summertime at Lake Walker

That red iron pump handle
in the kitchen sink
stands silent, waiting to be primed.
That well water is so cold
it can give you a brain freeze.

That kerosene lantern
on the dining room table
promises an evening’s entertainment
of gin rummy, charades, or monopoly.

That hand-cranked Victrola
on its stand in the dining room
scratches out “La Vie en Rose”
by Marlene Dietrich.

That maroon Harvard banner
competes with an enormous turtle shell
for pride of place
on the cabin wall.

That pile of walleyes
spread out on newspaper
on the back stoop
is dinner.

That fillet knife slices
through thick white flesh,
while fish eyes stare blankly
skyward.

That dented-up tackle box full of lures, jigs,
sinkers, spinners, bobbers,
leaders and hooks
nestles neatly
in the bow of the boat.

That stringer of crappies tied to the dock
will be turtle food if we don’t
bring them in before dark.

That ice box in the kitchen
needs a delivery tomorrow.
That bottle of “Old Sunnybrook” in the pantry
will take the chill out tonight.