It never had a formal name
scripted across its stern.
It was just “the boat,”
or, since his demise,
“Dad’s boat,”

though it was Mom’s color,
turquoise across the broad
bow and interior with white
undercarriage,

late ’60s Silverline Rambler—
which shared the garage
with the turquoise Rambler
station wagon—

inboard/outboard engine
that moved all four of us
effortlessly over the lake
in the park across the road.

It’s still there in the garage,
now turned over, along with
the house, to the next generation.
And oh, how my breath

caught when my sister and I
walked in after the renovation
to see, hanging on the old brick
fireplace, a large art piece

created by the new woman
of the house—the boat
on the lake under stormy
skies, sun gleaming its sides

as bright and clean as the day
our parents trailered it home.
I stood, gobsmacked,
oh-oh-oh-ing, one hand

crossing my chest as if ready
to recite a pledge, feeling him
and her in that room with two
generations of family they made,

all their mutual unhappiness
washed away, just the love
shining on the old boat
rendered anew,

as if it had been there all
this time, just waiting
for my eyes to refocus
enough to see it.

•••

For Ashley Redfield Just, who created this marvelous rendering
of the boat, and Kevin Just, now caring for it in his grandfather’s stead,
with deep appreciation from the Haag sisters.

In memory of our father, Roger Haag, and our mother,
Dorothy/Darlene Haag, and the trusty Silverline Rambler,
still in the garage.

And for my sister Donna and her husband Eric, who grew this family to perfection!