barbecuing photo by Tourtelot‘Summer Family Cookout’: A Poem by Doug Stoiber The Society July 2, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 14 Comments . Summer Family Cookout Criss-cross, hamburger toss, _Flip that sizzlin’ patty! Pretty please, and top with cheese! _You’re the Great Grill Master, Daddy! Three-two-one, slide it on a bun! _With ketchup, tomato and lettuce Hip-hip-hop, put a pickle on top _Call the kids to come and get it! Mom’s in the shade with cold lemonade _And potato salad, cool and creamy. What a tasty treat! Sure beats the heat _With the weather so gosh darn steamy. Everybody’s yellin’ for a chunk of watermelon, _Kids run through the sprinkler on the lawn, Fireflies blinking as the sun goes sinking, _And the streetlights finally come on. . . Doug Stoiber writes poetry and short fiction and is a member of the Mossy Creek Writers in East Tennessee. A dozen of his short stories and seventeen of his poems have been selected for publication in literary journals, poetry and fiction anthologies, and on literary websites. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 14 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson July 2, 2025 Doug, this is classic entertainment at its finest. I thoroughly enjoyed your version of a cookout done with humor and finesse. Reply Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Roy, Thanks for your positive comments. This was me and my family in the 1960s. Reply Mark Stellinga July 2, 2025 A really fun piece, Doug, and I’m suddenly feeling extremely hungry! 🙂 Reply Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Mark, Your very kind comments are much appreciated. You would have loved my mom’s potato salad. Reply Margaret Brinton July 2, 2025 A nostalgic glance at life’s basic pleasures! Reply Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Margaret, Nostalgia for my childhood and the magic of summer fun. Thanks for reading and commenting. Reply Paul A. Freeman July 2, 2025 I’ll be out of the Sahara, having my first barbecue in 11 months next week – you’ve sure put me in the mood, Doug. Reply Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Paul, I hope your cookout is every bit as delicious and memorable as the ones of my childhood memories. Thanks. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant July 2, 2025 Your words bob along with a musicality and energy that makes me smile… I can smell the burgers, I can taste the potato salad… and I am ready for my very own Great-Grill-Master husband to see to my hungry needs, such is the power of your poem. Thank you, Doug! Reply Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Susan, Your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Reply Carole Mertz July 2, 2025 I truly enjoy the flap snap of your hamburger toss and all its fixin’s down to the yellin’ for the melon. What a perfected light-hearted treat for summertime grillin’ and poetry swillen’. Reply Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Carole, If my poem is a light treat reminiscent of summer cookouts for you, than I consider the poem a success. Thank you for reading and commenting. Reply Cheryl A Corey July 2, 2025 Doug, your poem is delightful from start to finish. Only yesterday, I was reminiscing about being a kid in the backyard on a summer night, and how exciting it was to catch a firefly, cup it in your hand, and study the glow. Reply Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Cheryl, Wasn’t that the magical fun of a summer evening? I am pleased that you enjoyed the poem and the memory. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Roy Eugene Peterson July 2, 2025 Doug, this is classic entertainment at its finest. I thoroughly enjoyed your version of a cookout done with humor and finesse. Reply
Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Roy, Thanks for your positive comments. This was me and my family in the 1960s. Reply
Mark Stellinga July 2, 2025 A really fun piece, Doug, and I’m suddenly feeling extremely hungry! 🙂 Reply
Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Mark, Your very kind comments are much appreciated. You would have loved my mom’s potato salad. Reply
Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Margaret, Nostalgia for my childhood and the magic of summer fun. Thanks for reading and commenting. Reply
Paul A. Freeman July 2, 2025 I’ll be out of the Sahara, having my first barbecue in 11 months next week – you’ve sure put me in the mood, Doug. Reply
Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Paul, I hope your cookout is every bit as delicious and memorable as the ones of my childhood memories. Thanks. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant July 2, 2025 Your words bob along with a musicality and energy that makes me smile… I can smell the burgers, I can taste the potato salad… and I am ready for my very own Great-Grill-Master husband to see to my hungry needs, such is the power of your poem. Thank you, Doug! Reply
Carole Mertz July 2, 2025 I truly enjoy the flap snap of your hamburger toss and all its fixin’s down to the yellin’ for the melon. What a perfected light-hearted treat for summertime grillin’ and poetry swillen’. Reply
Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Carole, If my poem is a light treat reminiscent of summer cookouts for you, than I consider the poem a success. Thank you for reading and commenting. Reply
Cheryl A Corey July 2, 2025 Doug, your poem is delightful from start to finish. Only yesterday, I was reminiscing about being a kid in the backyard on a summer night, and how exciting it was to catch a firefly, cup it in your hand, and study the glow. Reply
Doug Stoiber July 7, 2025 Cheryl, Wasn’t that the magical fun of a summer evening? I am pleased that you enjoyed the poem and the memory. Reply