Childhood Treasures

Awash in a dream filled sleep content

I wandered streets of childhood spent

Playing games with ball and jacks

Exploring woods and railroad tracks

Cops and robbers; you've been caught

Penny candy could be bought

Slay the dragons; do be brave

Shirley Temple's curly wave

Hop Scotch drawn on streets with chalk

Find some water; skip a rock

Neighbor friends who'd play all day

Now all grown; they've gone away.

It Beckons Me Back

Paddling through on a warm summer day

Reeds sway in the deep waters green

Quiet, mirror reflections mimic my thoughts

Frogs on a Lilly pad croak a hello

Dragonflies cause ripples as they dip to the surface

Lone bass leaps, gleaming scales in the sunlight.

I wish I had my fishing pole

This special place to drop my line

But alas this trip is a scenic one.

I’ll mark this cove for another day

When I’ll return prepared to bait my hook

For now, I’ll dream of the one that got away.

Hard Life, Well Spent

Cowboys herdin’ cattle cross dusty trails

Sandy hooves paint ground fog in their wake

Shuffling along swattin’ flies off molty hides

Riders amble aside keeping eye on their stake

Chuck wagon camps, setting up by a creek

Beans and pan bread cookin’ over hot stones

Coffee’s meandering aroma penetrates the air

Greeting men carrying saddles over tired bones

Ranch hands scout the waters nearby

Look to the sky to judge the night

Storms a comin’ as night encroaches

Coyotes restless, cries rent last light

Cattle dogs alert to changes

Nip the heels of stragglin’ calves

Cowhand slaps his rope while coaxing

Blistered hands and lips in need of salves

Cowhands sing to calm their charges

Bedrolls gathered near the fire

Dreaming of a trail once taken

And of their loves as they retire