Childhood Nostalgia
by Vincent Rendoni
mom / her monte carlo / blue flake paint /
chain-smoking kent 100s / smooth, rich taste /
dropping carmen & i off at the y /
breaststroke / float / butterfly /
best in class / rewarded with taco time /
adult-size mexi-fries /
mom / skims one off the top /
mom / no eating in the car /
mom / do as i say not as i do /
carmen & me / lunch under our apple tree /
kool-aid / purplesaurus rex /
our stained lips & insides /
neighbor’s horses / heads over the fence /
big eyes / begging for a treat /
didn’t see the drifter /
patch & mange / yellow teeth /
daisy / our first dog / on him in seconds /
mom with a butcher knife /
wondering if what happens next /
will be justified
Published on July 7, 2026