Faye Sizemore

OLD MILL CREEK

Old Mill Creek ParkWe pedalin’ our bikes
Just being merry
Took the old shortcut
Through the cemetery
Down to where there was
A creek ‘neath the hill
Down that shady
Rutty gravel lane

Whoopin’ and hollorin’
We came
To the pond below
The old gristmill
We’d go there
In the summer heat
Swimin’ in the millpond
Could not be beat

It was our summer
Gatherin’ place
Our cares we’d leave
In another space
A time not measured
On the clock
Lost in cool waters
By a mossy rock

The boys would
Skinny dip
Afterwards they would
Really flip
You can take
This bet
We knowin’ how their
Clothes got wet

There was a rope
Over the creek
Hung from a
Willow tree
We would swing
Across on it
My brother
And me

Through the air
We would glide
Feelin’ like
Winged creatures
As we made
The other side
That was another
Long gone time

Now here I am
Alone just me
Sittin’ on the mossy rock
Watchin’ the sunshine
Dapple the waters
As it shines
Through the old tree
Where many

Years ago
Our rope swing
Used to be
Overgrown the lane is
Now with vines
Seems I can hear laughter
From by gone times
Glimpse from the
Corner of my eyes
Bare foot girls with
Pants rolled up
Bare backs of little guys

I long for those
Carefree days
And us with our
Tom Sawyer ways
The mill wheel doesn’t
Turn anymore
Like me, old and creaky
It `s become

My brother has
Gone on before
We won’t catch
The tadpoles
As we did in
Days of yore
On the rope swing
We won’t glide
No need to…
When time finds
You’re already…
On the other side…