Honorable Mention

Lara Mammana's I Remember

His breath smelled
like Marlboro reds
and the Seagram's whiskey
          that he kept under the kitchen sink.

They said
that he backed his words with a strong fist
browned from the afternoons
of digging in the garden
planting corn and peas and string-beans
          for his family to eat during winter.

When he came home
late in the afternoon
he sat on the wooden steps
          leading to the backyard.

I joined him there
while they were still at work
to discuss things
like the way to plant a tomato,
the bad winter coming, and
          the first day of school.

Hoping for a good push
on the swing
that hung from the Magnolia tree
          with a burlap rope