Kelley’s Island bonfire
Kelley’s Island in Lake Erie
primitive cabin with electricity that went off and came on
as it would decades ago
but plenty of driftwood drying on the lawn until ready
visiting extended family built a bonfire on the rocky shore
neighbors and strangers from up and down the coast
came to the leaping orange of the flames and spitting sparks
as we sang The Cannibal King and Swing Low Sweet Chariot
with my sister beside to hold me i let my toddler self be gleefully frightened
of the flitting firelight and shadow playing terrifying angles
on even familiar faces