Dairy Queen

hot, sticky evening air
sun lingering in the sky
breaking from lassitude

smallest in the stroller
another on his bike
you and i, daughter
chatting about all and nothing

wending the familiar path
to the spot a mile away

where all chose
their favorite
ice cream indulgence,
sat on the curb
to race the drips
to the final lick

the return trek home
as the sun slid to sleep