Summer, The First Time
Remember the fun you had as a kid?
Building tree houses with a trap door lid?
Building forts and secret caves?
If in the country, those were the days.
We rode bikes everywhere we went.
There were no gangs. Threats weren’t sent.
We had fun exploring in the woods.
The dog was with us, like he should.
He kept us safe and we never got lost.
He would get us home at any cost.
We had our swimming hole in the creek.
Every summer that’s where we would meet.
We didn’t have phones to call home.
Our parents weren’t scared cause we were alone.
We would ride our bikes to meet one another.
Before we left we’d tell our mother.
We knew how to stay out of trouble.
There were mostly boys in our huddle.
We didn’t have computers or games.
We would read a book when it would rain.
No i-pods, cellular phones, or x-boxes.
Yet, we kept busy finding where our sock is.
We would make up games to play.
Or, just lie around in the sun all day.
When we got older we had a summer job.
All of us found work. It wasn’t odd.
There was still swimming after work.
On weekends we’d pull on our clean shirt.
Then off to church we would go.
It was the way things were, you know.
When old enough to finally drive.
To the A & W, we would arrive.
Checking out the cute little car hops.
Playing the music that wouldn’t stop.
Dating at the drive in with your favorite girl.
The entire time was such a thrill.
But, it’s all just memories now.
If I had the chance somehow.
I would go back and live it again.
It would be good to see old friends.
Now I look forward to heaven.
That time won’t end.. No home by eleven.
——————————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2013)