The Summer I Was Sixteen- Maranda Gaines

Geraldine Connolly

The turquoise pool rose up to meet us,
its slide a silver afterthought down which
we plunged, screaming, into a mirage of bubbles.
We did not exist beyond the gaze of a boy.


Shaking water off our limbs, we lifted
up from ladder rungs across the fern-cool
lip of rim. Afternoon. Oiled and sated,
we sunbathed, rose and paraded the concrete,


danced to the low beat of "Duke of Earl".
Past cherry colas, hot-dogs, Dreamsicles,
we came to the counter where bees staggered
into root beer cups and drowned. We gobbled


cotton candy torches, sweet as furtive kisses,
shared on benches beneath summer shadows.
Cherry. Elm. Sycamore. We spread our chenille
blankets across grass, pressed radios to our ears,


mouthing the old words, then loosened
thin bikini straps and rubbed baby oil with iodine
across sunburned shoulders, tossing a glance
through the chain link at an improbable world.

from Province of Fire, 1998
Iris Press, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Copyright 1998 by Geraldine Connolly.


This poem definitely reflects the author's cultural perspective. She recalls a memory of a typical American teenage girl's summer. Dancing, hot dogs, cherry colas, and cotton candy all point to an American setting. The author grew up somewhere sunny and almost picture perfect as she portrays through her vivid details. I chose this poem initially because of the title, considering I was 16 not too long ago and felt I lived the most during summer months. After reading the poem, I really liked the picture she paints with her attention to detail and how relatable her piece is.