Where are the days before pumpkin spice?
Where are those hot summer days?
When we ran in sprinklers, on lawns of green
We had no care of what our thighs looked like
Or if the neighbors might see
Where are the endless afternoons?
Reading a book or three
Bike rides down safe summer lanes
Creating mud pies, grass buffets, all natural with sugar on top
Where did the days before pumpkin spice go?
Where is grandma?
Making her pies
Where is grandpa?
Fixing our bikes
Where is mommy?
Kissing scraped knee
Where is daddy?
At the BBQ cooking meat
Where did those days go? Before we knew the spice of Autumn
Kisses were innocent, if awkward
Holding hands meant nothing and everything
You were mine, at least for this week
Where are those days before pumpkin spice?
This is a dVerse prompt: title your poem with the question – where are the/they… , use the questioning within your poem, even with repetition, DO NOT ANSWER it though – the questioning is rhetorical, employ concepts of mortality, the transience of life, a sense of nostalgia.
I actually created 2 other poems before this one having not paid attention to one of the prompts so this prompt created 3 poems instead of one. lol There is an intentional duality (or more depending on how deep you want to read into it :^) ) in the poem of seasons and aging. I hope you enjoy!
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The Author Stew webpage - Stories & Poems 
When we enter that intermediate period with no clear view what will fill the days until the real autumn kicks in.
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The dying of the leaves, fireworks of bright orange and red, the fuse just lit.
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This reminds me of watching my students figuring their ways through growing up. I’m so lucky to experience this, though it drives me crazy wishing I could do the same!
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A true blessing, which I will leave with you, as I couldn’t be one to teach youngsters. LOL
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I understand! 😁
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I love how you have used Pumpkin spice as the watermark between childhood and thereafter, some lovely lines filled with the aroma of nostalgia
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I’ve as of yet to hear a child ask for pumpkin spice anything. Though I don’t go around asking children their drink orders. LOL I also am old enough to remember a time when pumpkin spice was just used in pumpkin pie and wasn’t a cultural event.😂
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Every question you asked is one I would have wondered as well! Your poem brought back many memories ~ resurrected because of YOU. As for the spice? I sprinkle it on my morning coffee.
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I’m glad to be of service Helen. 😁 A little trip down memory lane can be good for the soul.
Enjoy your pumpkin spice coffee! ☕ hehe
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oh where indeed? Have I taken up the mantle and my place at the bbq grill? Orr do we just order takeout…. Sigh
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Why not both? 😁
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Where are those days of childhood indeed, Stew? I miss them too, especially:
‘Reading a book or three
Bike rides down safe summer lanes
Creating mud pies, grass buffets, all natural with sugar on top’.
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One of the greatest summer vacations I had as a kid was spending the whole summer reading through a pile of books. Thanks for the kind words Kim. ☺
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My pleasure, Stew.
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Stew, another great sharing of childhood memories written for the prompt. I feel like we’ve all time traveled.
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I think the prompt was a great guide to that. Thanks for reading! ☺
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Agree. You are welcome.
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