Uncle Maurice buys an acre
with a green pond next to a llama
farm especially for Muriel,
his 11-year-old niece. He chops
a pile of cedar & builds an octagon
gazebo & spreads out a fuzzy
wool blanket where Muriel pores
over storybooks. He practices
harmonica & smokes Cuban
cigarillos, which are forbidden
at home. Today Muriel grabs
her dress-up doll, stuffs
a tote bag full with doll
clothes, a copy of Songs
of Humpback Whales, a sketch
pad of multicolored
papers & a box of 12 super-sized
crayons. A llama
brays, prompting a gentle
swaying of pond
like the ruffles of a prom
dress. In the shade of a Big
Leaf Maple they a nosh
on Braeburn apples & dark
chocolate. Muriel naps
& dreams she is a trapeze
artist with elegant muscled
legs turning three
somersaults in the cool
afternoon air. As the sun
heads down the peach
tinged skyscape Maurice rolls
her wheelchair close to the blanket
& bends over to lift her
up with both arms.