PINK LEMONADE
poem by Juan Olivarez
In the shade of my live oak tree,
Drinking pink lemonade.
Just about as laid back as can be,
Oh boy, I really got it made.
A little tart, a little sweet,
Best batch Elvira’s ever made.
Time to get off my tired feet,
With a cold glass of lemonade.
I could use a cookie, I suppose,
But I don’t want to leave this shade.
Maybe later, after I repose,
Right now I’ll sip my lemonade.
ABOUT POET JUAN OLIVAREZ (in his own words): I was born in Nyssa, Oregon, while my parents who were farm workers were picking cherries and working in the potato fields in Idaho. I grew up in Mission, Texas, and attended Mission High, scool where I first attempted to write poetry. While in high school, I had two poems published in Focus magazine, “What is War” in 1972 and “The Clouds” in 1973. I have been in public service in my home town of Alton, Texas, as city alderman, police commissioner, and mayor pro tem. I love to play chess, play the guitar, cook, and my other true love — fishing. My first love has and always will be my wife Elvira McAllen, who against her better judgement decided to say yes when I asked her to marry me in 1973. We have six children, two marines, two musicians, a teacher, and my youngest who is currently in California in the place I love so much, the Mojave Desert.
For more poems by Juan Olivarez, visit poemhunter.com.
Illustration: “Pink Lemonade” by Ranger Kat, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
