Little Grey Shake Poem by Theodora (Theo) Onken

It was the season of my childhood
Apple tree swings and cattails
The misty Seattle breeze and
My world
Memories being what they are
I become a hopeless intruder
Opening up that proverbial gate
To my city-my street
My world
Our castle was of grey shake
Mama and daddy's dream come true
Surrounded by many bodies of water
The bluest of blue
Marti's Market and Robinson's Five and Dime
Where we shopped is gone now
A few windy blocks away-St. Edwards
Where we attended weekly Mass and made
Confessions to Father Fox
Our neighborhood was a constant gathering place
Of small talk, laughter and lots of hot coffee
We weren't just neighbors-we were family
The Emerald City still holds a piece of my heart
It is, after all, where mama's ashes are
And where my sweet memories were made
My street still stands proud
It is where i called home for 16 years of my life
I can still see mama's and daddy's dream come true
In my mind's eye
It will be forever: our little grey shake on Graham