A Day in Late June 1978

Leaves of thirty-three autumns

have covered the forest floor

along the bend in Laurel Creek,

that secret place, where cold

mountain water laps against

round, polished stones

and bare feet. Loamy

Tennessee silt once sifted

between the toes here, 

leaving high-water marks 

on our ragged jeans. 

We feasted at waters’ edge,

eating over ripe blackberries;

blooms of honeysuckle

gave more laughter than honey.

Our berry-stained fingers traced

the words in sand

shyness would not say aloud.

Sometimes, I visit the stream,

kick the leaves over my shoes,

listen for the heavy north wind

to convict the pride of tall poplars,

but I dare not venture to the bend,

fearing somehow, someway,

I might reshape the memory

of you.

Reviews

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Todd,

Another wonderful poem, my friend. You are seeing so clearly with the inner eye it's scary.How powerful your words are in evoking our emotions! I feel your fear of rounding the bend. Yes, reshaping that memory would be a horror--can't go there!

Amazing again. Wonderful writing. Again, top scores.

Best regards,

Rick

[Stammers]

Beautifully written, just - I don't know - when its right, its just right. Its also perfect.

[BLBrown]

Beautiful. Very evocative and vivid. I could see you there. Congratulations!

[Mockingbird]

beautiful imagery. how you name the name of the creek and tennessee makes it personalized. it's always hard to forget the past especially when there are so many things that remind you of a past love.

[Buddhistboy73]

beautiful poem my friend. This is the stuff of memories and it made my heart skip a beat as i thought of past encounters with lovers...love the layout, format and message...the sign of a great poem for me.....well written....

[Wolfwind Words]

A fantastic flow of memory and image! Deep and thoughtful, carefully constructed to keep the feeling of that moment in time fixed within the eyes of the writer and the reader. The descriptive nature of this piece really brought out the background scene, in a robust and flavorful way.

Awesome Ink Todd!
Wolfie

[Phibby Venable]

this is so beautiful...the delicate wording suggested the hard fist of pain, really amazing writing, and i love laurel creek (live 8 miles from it) the shade, the rainbow trout, and beauty. i like how the nostalgia is evident but not heavily played...the memory beautiful but the pain of the bend avoided...i wrote something different and lost it so i hope this makes sense. excellent writing.