Trials of a Family Portrait

the sun blazed overhead and I felt faint–

“this is so stupid,” I whispered to myself–

even though the ocean looked like blue paint

and the houses were like books on a shelf.

*

maybe just a handful might be simple,

but seventeen adults and two small kids?

there would be no smile with a dimple,

and I wondered if there were gambling bids.

*

getting single shots was a surefire pain

as we all assembled in pairs in line,

and the heat was slowly being a drain

even as we looked for Cameraman’s sign.

*

an hour, but the last picture was taken–

let’s never again waken that kraken.