Lemonade Stands

(and Other Glorious Inconveniences)

Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cute-child-holding-a-

To the children on the corner 
of Reedy and Cotswold: 
thank you for adding two minutes 
to my grocery commute;
the raspberry lemonade was sour and sweet 
just as I like it,
and in your gleaming eyes and eager-serving hands
I saw my own two children
on another street corner 
fourteen years ago, 
homemade sign scotch-taped to the cardboard table;
and on a corner with my cousins 
I saw even my ten-year-old self 
thirty-six years ago
back when we squeezed our own lemons 
for a quarter a glass.

And thank you to the farmer 
who sets up his produce tent at the edge of town 
which is out of my way, by the way
and to whomever planted and picked 
those plump tomatoes 
and to whomever cut 
that vase of sunflowers 
now smiling from my kitchen table 
and to whomever fed 
those chickens whose eggs 
will be scrambled for tomorrow’s breakfast.

And thank you to my husband
who hung a rope between the two walnut trees out back 
which makes drying my laundry longer 
which makes me remember my mother 
clipping her clothespins 
as my brothers and I 
run under our blowing bedsheets,
which makes me think of the women round the world 
washing their children’s clothes by hand, 
their sisters by their side.

And thank you to the French Press carafe 
that has no buttons 
no premeasured coffee grounds in little plastic cups
that makes me wait 
just long enough to greet 
the morning barefoot in the backyard,
that makes me wait
just long enough to bow 
before the beginning of day.

Thank you to the analog wrist watch 
	that doesn’t beep
to the silence button 
	that quiets my phone 
to the paper and pen 
	that makes my muddy mind clear
to the garden
	 that grows slow 
to the dawn 
	that takes an entire night 
		to wake again.

© Annette Darity Garber

“Oh do you have time
to linger
for just a little while
out of your busy

and very important day…”

- Mary Oliver (from her poem, “Invitation”)

Annette is a writer, spiritual companion, retreat facilitator and tender of Refugia House. She offers spaces of “refugia” where life can thrive despite surrounding chaos and often needs reminders from lemonade stands and coffee carafes to slow down, be present, and find beauty.

If interested in learning about spiritual companioning or personal or group retreat opportunities… schedule a FREE clarity call with Annette.