A Lick of Strawberry Ice Cream

you choose vanilla, so sweet and so cute,

while I linger over the ice-cold case

and hum among choices of sugar fruit

while people crowd in like it's a brisk race.

*

your pink tongue peeks out, a quick and clean swipe,

as I debate: peach pie or lemon ice?

but then you say the strawberries are ripe

and are in season to please and suffice.

*

all offerings are fresh, creamy, homemade—

but I still take my sweet time to decide

since I guess I don't want to be dismayed

by these moments we have by the seaside.

*

but I point at the strawberries and cream

and know it will soon taste just like a dream.