BLACKBERRIES AND GINGER ALE

Sonali Konda

let me remember the taste of carbonated laughter, sweet electricity, blackberries and ginger ale.

let me remember how we sparkled, bubbles in a glass, black and white and gold, laughter lines and shining eyes.

let me remember the theater we built for ourselves: let’s take centerstage for once. clasp hands, bow to the dark house. this won’t be the last triumph.

let me remember this promise we made. we are five beacons and balustrades. five lights through the fog when we don’t know where else to go, how to get there. five shoulders offering to take the weight, hands extended without terms and conditions.

let me remember this little family not born but built, just five kids searching for a home tonight because we need somewhere to celebrate and scream where we can’t see the eyes of elsewhere shining in, where we can’t see the eyes of the future and past.

let me remember that radio silence doesn’t exist, that we are never out of range and even when the channel is static there is always someone sitting on the other side, ready to turn the mic back on.

let me remember with certainty that though i will have gone you will never let me wander too far.