shaved ice

it doesn't seem that long
ago, but it is,
when the small man
with the push cart
came up the street with
a hand held
bell
and shaved ice into a
paper cone
for all the children
that came running
with coins
in their hand.
strawberry, lime,
orange and vanilla,
root beer,
were just a few of the flavors
he carried in
tall cold bottles.
they rattled against
one another
as the wooden wheeled
cart pressed on.
then one day he was gone
and so were you.