ARUNI WIJESINGHE

Summer Salt

we are another American family
fleeing the suburbs in a packed station wagon
spend a week of our summer on the Jersey Shore
rent a condominium a few blocks from the beach

fleeing the suburbs in a packed station wagon
we crave sunshine, sand castles, waves licking our toes
rent a condominium a few blocks from the beach
neighbors ride bikes back from the shore in the twilight

we crave sunshine, sand castles, waves licking our toes
we buy saltwater taffy from boardwalk hawkers
neighbors ride bikes back from the shore in the twilight
while parents drink piña coladas at sunset

we buy saltwater taffy from boardwalk hawkers
eat Nathan’s hot dogs and French fries from paper cups
while parents drink piña coladas at sunset
the Ferris wheel spins us through a candy floss sky

eat Nathan’s hot dogs and French fries from paper cups
spend a week of our summer on the Jersey Shore
the Ferris wheel spins us through a candy floss sky
we are another American family

We are another American family.

Aruni Wijesinghe is a project manager, ESL teacher, erstwhile belly dance instructor and occasional sous chef; she now, strangely, adds poet to this list. Her debut poetry collection, 2 Revere Place, is a love letter to her family and miraculous childhood in New York. You can follow her at www.aruniwrites.com