Bring back the days
of a carefree life
with play an’ laughter,
no worry or strife.
Let me swing so high
in the old apple tree
like monkeys in a jungle
screaming with glee.
I want to chase chickens
back into their pen,
an’ ride the young heifers
‘cross our land again.
Run in the sunshine,
play in the field,
hide in the sweet corn,
eat apples—unpeeled.
Rope-swing into haylofts,
ride horses on roads,
wade ponds by the dozens
searching out toads.
Play baseball in pastures—
dry cow pies for bases,
tie legs together
in gunny-sack races.
Have friends cross the meadow
an’ just down the way,
more joy than imagined
packed into a day.
Summers so hot,
my skin will burn red,
be a tired little kid
when shooed off to bed.
Swim the ditch
with water snakes galore—
Oh, just to catch
a slithery once more.
Discover new bugs,
an’ catch honey bees,
punch holes in a jar lid
so they can breath free.
Try to smoke straw
out backa the barn,
singe off my eyebrows,
then tell a big yarn.
Have winters fantastic!
I love snows piled high—
it provides such adventures
the more just to try.
Sleigh ride till midnight—
big tire-burn fire,
all that fun on the slopes
is my heart’s desire.
To be tucked into bed,
on a cold winter’s night
hide under the covers
so boogie-man won’t bite.
Be pinched hard in church
for not sitting still,
not paying attention
to learn the Lord’s will.
***
At sixty does it count
to still feel so young,
in my mind, bring back childhood,
not this life on the run?
I certainly hope so—
I have fields yet to roam,
reminiscing/reliving
before God calls me home.
