picnic dates with you

bright sunny afternoons translate

to calm dates in the park with my love

picnics in the grass with our blankets

creating a barrier between the fresh morning dew

and the blue jeans we adore.

the view of giant oak trees standing strong at attention,

while the orchids, daisies, and sunflowers marched

and fell in line with its rooted leader. the passing cars

create a loop of white noise that allows us to admire

the beauty of our chaotic hometown.

after a brief smoking intermission,

we find ourselves laughing at the cerulean blue sky,

her arms wrapped around my body while

i lay between her legs to get closer

the steady cadence of her heartbeat against my eardrum

lulling me into a calmness i've never felt before

pointing at the clouds shaped like Pikachu and Ash,

forgetting about the problems waiting at home.

a tall, honey-toned stranger approaches us

begging to take a photo of us for his portfolio

as he loved the tranquility and love radiating off our beings

compared to the long faces of depression

and disappointment associated with this town.

i regret never taking that picture

wishing i could frame that memory on my bedroom wall

and relive that day whenever i'm sad.

but, when i see the sun rise again,

i know that i am one day closer

to another picnic date with you.