Nearly Fall

Old squirrel's cuttin'
On a hickory nut
Up that tree
Just behind the house.
Sittin' here
I hear the constant
Crunch as he bites.

The cool of the night
Reminds him
And me
That leaves will be changin'
Birds'll soon fly
Nights grow colder
And quilts appear
On my bed
To comfort and warm.

Fall's a comin'
Nearly here.
Old friend, harvest buddy
Companion to the hunter.
Just wait,
Soon you'll be dancin'
Kickin' up the leaves
Doin' a promenade
In the fallen leaves.

Sit With Me

Sit with me on the porch
Of an old mountain cabin.
Listen to the rain
As it hits the tin roof.
Playin' a ragtime song
In seasonal syncopation.
Look out into the distance
Up the holler
Through the hazy rain.
Watch for that truck or car
That might wander by.
Throw up a hand an' howdy
Nod your head an' grin.
We'll talk a bit
Not often.
Just a wanderin' thought
Now an' then.
Mostly we'll sit an' listen,
Watchin' nothin' at all.
Enjoy the day,
The rain,
The company.
Just bein'
Just knowin'
Just fine.

Tall Ships

Tall ships and boats
Docked,
Moored and await.
Masts held high
Like second grade
Children
Sitting in neat rows
Hands held high
Crying, "Pick me!
Pick Me!"

To Be Young

He often dreams of her
In his sleep he hears her call.
He turns and tries to find comfort
In a bed not of his making.
She calls and he hopes
Wanting, deep in his dreams
To wake up and go in search of her.
She waits in the twilight of memories
Golden skin and sun bright hair
Eyes deep blue stare into his
When he sleeps.

Many years have passed
Since they shared their love.
He is no longer the slim boy
With hair long and wild.
His hair is shorter now
Going grey and not looking back.

She remains the girl that he loved
He can see every detail of her now
Even the gossamer, golden hairs
On her arm as she reaches to touch him.
Oh, that he could run into that dream
And live forever in that place
With that lovely mountain gal.
Not that life isn't good,
Nor even that he isn't happy.

Like every man,
He would be young once more.

That toad

No verse today,
just a note to say
the opportunistic toad
has taken up
permanent residence
on the side of my home,
coming out each and every night
to slap tongue onto flying insects
wandering too close to the ground.
Sort of pet,
Protector of the light
Moocher, evening pal
Not responding to my
"Howdy neighbor"
Because he is too busy
Looking for a handout.