I've never been to a farmer's market 
But it's that little blissful dream 
Where skies stretch gold-streaked 
Beyond a perfect crescent rainbow 
 
It'll have all my favorite treasures 
Blush-drenched berries, ripe this morning 
Barely budded tulips, with their clean, earthy air  
All clouds adrift, softened and far 
 
My parents will hold my hands, 
Swinging me off the ground as I laugh and kick my feet 
My brother will sprint off ahead 
Chasing a pebble down the winding road 
 
But when I was young, I spat out the berries 
Thought roses far outshined a simple tulip 
Spring was a nuisance, with bugs and storms 
And family was just  a photograph 
If I had wandered to that market, would the dream have wilted? 
Would that bright world of hope collapse beneath what's real? 
Perhaps the careful life's kinder than what never was, 
For a girl who could only dream of joy. 
But 
 
Strawberries are my favorite fruit now 
Baby tulips sit proud on my windowsill 
My mother kisses my forehead each night 
And the strange rains are always welcome. 
 
I'll visit my first farmers market this spring 
See the merchants sell and smile 
And thank the lucky stars for today 
That little me is safe, and dreaming still.