Friday, March 18, 2022

THE CREEK BELOW THE GARDEN

God's little acreage just below a grove of pine

Which in season wore the sweet cologne of nature's gift;

The warm clean scent of honeysuckle lingering in

Morning dew which touches wild huckleberry bushes

Clinging near the ground.

 

The garden clearing held a maze of bush and vine,

A quarter acre filled with roadside vendor's ware

Which mother rather gave away than charge a tariff

For their growing; an abundance more

Than we could use before their freshness faded past.

 

But I, in youth, was forever intrigued by

The narrow strip at the garden's edge, where a

Trickle of water somewhere upstream grew to a band

A few feet wide and sliced a miniature canyon through

The lower quadrant of our land.

 

Tall trees bordered on all sides, ancient in their guardianship. 

Moss and fern attested to the quiet seclusion from the sun.

Elderberry lined her sides with deep red-blooded sweet repast,

Which mother captured in a jar to last

Through winter's coldest days.

 

In Summer we would force her waters back

Into her shallow banks with stone and stick and sand,

A man-made dam of rudimentary skill, which washed away

The first strong rain that fell to quell

Our foolish youthful dreams.

 

Funny how the time goes by and memories fade into night.

But certain aspects in our youth are lasting thoughts... unwavering.

The creek below the garden is undying in my meager mind;

A cave-wall painting etched in stone...

A fond remembering.      

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