Lemonade

(Published in Kaplan FCAT Grade 6)

The steamy August wind swept down from blue and blinding skies
My skin was drenched with moisture, the breezes stung my eyes.
The heat almost unbearable, the sun shone two o’clock
I pushed away exhaustion as I walked that final block.

The street was sweetly singing, in dull but pleasant tones
As symphonies of whirring flew from air-conditioned homes
My forearm stretched across my brow, my throat a desert plain
“Just a few more houses” echoing throughout my brain.

My destination finally reached, I threw open the door
And handed Dad the lemons I had brought home from the store
He thanked his darling daughter (me) for what I’d gone to get
And placed my baby sister back inside her bassinet

We headed to the kitchen to begin our grand routine
I got out the cutting board, he wiped the table clean.
Those lemons and some sugar, a juicer and a knife
Make the greatest drink you’ve ever had in your whole life.

The sun attacked the window, but I still smiled with glee
As he cut the lemons lengthwise and handed them to me
I squeezed as hard as I could squeeze, my strength pushed to its brink
To get the juice that dad and I would need to make our drink

Twelve lemons fell that afternoon; their rinds had met defeat,
Their juice, the spoils of battle, Our victory would be sweet.
A cup and a half of sugar, he added nice and slow.
While I poured in the water, one hundred ounces H2O.

We stirred it for a minute, then drank the joy we’d made.
Our famous and delicious Dad’s…and Daughter’s…lemonade
Yes, I’ll gladly take the blazing sun and endure this humid pain
Because I love the taste of summer, though I sometimes might complain.