Mr. Happe's Recipe Poem by Juan Olivarez

We spent the week
On Galveston Island.
Walking endless miles on
Seaweed covered beaches.

Sargasso time of the year
The water was warm.
Too warm, too much seaweed
But the Gulf breeze was cool.

So we spent the week
On the veranda watching the ships
And dozing in the breeze
Sipping Mr. Happe's recipe.

We watched the gulls
Flying all around the house.
We watched the squirrels climbing
The date palms at meal times.

We smelled the sweet scent
Of the Magnolias and the oleanders
Watching Mrs. Porter
Trimming her Hibiscus.

I caught myself dozing off
The breeze was so delectable.
And all the while Mr. Happe's recipe
Warmed my blood and my soul.

5/21/14
ALTON TEXAS