Mother Natures Sons

 

Tony lived out in the country

on a hundred acre estate

There on our throne, we called Tombstone

is where we would tempt our fate

On what we called the back forty

set the barn where our ponies stayed

There we could count, each trusty mount

to partner in each game we played

 

 

We picked up our neighbor Georgie

from a bit farther down the lane

 In an hours course, saddled each horse

then set off with the morning rain

Georgie always rode ole Rusty

a stud with a mind of his own

Tough and so wild, mind of a child

ole Rusty was bad to the bone

 

We never went on safari

without carrying BB guns

Which we toted, locked and loaded

we were all mother nature’s sons

We had mastered our universe

or to us at least it seemed so

That afternoon, we shot a coon

how he escaped I'll never know

Off we raced to Lost Creek

our favorite watering hole

Crazy Rusty, hot and dusty

rode out on point for this patrol

Out past the neighbors fields of corn

our club house in the willow tree

The winding lane, a weather vane

to the creek that ran to the sea

 

 

We tied the horses to a tree

in the grass by the swimming hole

Piled up the rocks, just like Fort Knox

making it deeper was our goal

All afternoon we played out there

shooting targets off the ridge

Saddled each horse, and in due course

we set off for the cement bridge

 

 

The bridge barely cleared the water

where the rain had swollen the creek

So now it ran, over the span

as it had the entire week

Now George of course wanting the lead

headed for the top of the ridge

He couldn't see apparently

the algae that grew cross the bridge

 

 

He met the bridge at full gallop

Rusties shoes slipped as he went down

George screamed "Oh crap," and with a snap

broke his leg and began to drown

 We both jumped in and pulled him out

caught his horse and threw him back on

Pain made him hurl, he screamed like a girl

any dignity was now gone

 

 

We drug him back to his mothers house

where she promptly rushed him to town

Tony and I, both waved goodbye

determined that we wouldn't frown

We camped under the stars that night

each wrote out our Wills in a draft

Tony turned in, and with a grin

said "tomorrow we build a raft"

Author's Note

As a boy Tony Williams and I were most fortunate to have his families hundred acre estate to roam on. In a fool-hearty downriver adventure. He and I had attempted to ride the current during a storm upon a tube with a door atop it. The tube struck a fallen tree downstream and turned under the water. We both thought it was the end. Happily we both bobbed up on the other side and floated 6 miles down to my grandfathers Eddies bridge where we secured a ride home. On the way home Tony said "Well this day is shot all to hell! One didn't know what might come next with Tony. But one things for sure, another day meant another adventure.

Reviews

[Revery]

There is a magic in life and all the moments that make it up. All those individual moment, all those places and all those faces. In the midst of those moments we don't see it but it's all wrought with magic. Set that in our time of youth and it is even that much more. Fantastic write Tate. Thanks for sharing.

[Tate Morgan]

These are the manna by which our character is formed and friendships forged
Thank you

[Dane Osborne]

Makes me think back alot on some of my own childhood memories. At it's best, childhood is like a bubble that is destined to pop at any second. With innocence comes a vulnerability and that is why it is so easily shattered.

Before the inevitable shatter, though, the world is a surreally beautiful place and whenever the bubble pops, people handle it in different ways. I think that plays a part in how individuals develop, whether in better ways or worse ways. I don't know how relevant that is to the actual point you were making with the poem, but that's what it made me think about.

Very quaint but intelligent write. It did really remind me of the strange simplicity of having that perception of the world.

[Tate Morgan]

Simplicity seems to be the hallmark of my life.I write of the life and times i have lived and experienced.Yet I see a unusual use of common language in the works I create.Perhaps life has a beauty all its own.But for me the beauty is not in the observation of natures wonders But in the living of childhood with all its wonder.A television society that watches others live their lives leaves our children sorely wanting

[Valentine]

Tate. arent some of hte memories we had as a child in tdhe country some of the best..my parents came from farms near cadillac Michigan..still in the family..lots of land to ride horses, play in the creek, and just be kids..Today one never sees children outside...too busy inside with electronic toys..Katihe

[Tate Morgan]

Kathy there is no treasure for which i would be willing to trade the memories of my childhood.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

The adventures we have as kids stick with us a lifetime. Great write Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Fabian For you and i these memories are the source of endless bemusement and a deep well to draw from.Where friends were like brothers and round each corner was a new adventure
Thank you

[Silhouette]

Really nice story, reads quite well. Kudos to you! =)

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you very much

[Silhouette]

You are welcome

[Dr. Wood ?]

well this day is shot to hell...sounds like a great line to end a movie.......great poem sir as always

[Tate Morgan]

Tony had a way with words didn't he lol Expressing the painfully obvious as if our lives were over for now. lol As he said once i hate sleep you arent alive when you sleep I beg to differ.

[quinfinn]

charming story. it made me think back to misadventures of my youth. they are far too numerous to tell. i like the format of this write, it has a familiar meter and it works quite well. excellent prose, worthy of a live reading on "you know where"

[Tate Morgan]

Our misadventures led to our dysfunctional adult lives lol .Where the world went the way of the do do bird and we decided to stay in the reality of the moment.

[The Refined Poet]

I enjoyed this one. nicely crafted poetic narrative.

[Tate Morgan]

Dear sir so nice to see you here today .t has been awhile.You are always welcome Thank you

[Marie]

A raft is a good idea if you have to deal with a river. Good for Tony!

[Tate Morgan]

Tony was the stronger of the two of us.Physically While i was the brains of the outfit lol But He was a doer not a thinker and he would do whatever he damn well pleased lol And I would go along thinking he would keep me safe

[Holly Mason]

celebrating the world we grow up in is a true gesture of who you are
my girls grew up on a nice property on the Indian River-they can clam with their toes*)a fresh adventure on pages-lovely
you always add human emotion into your work and it makes it so enjoyable to read
love your title choice*)
we also sport bb guns but ours are bright pink-true*)
thank you so for sharing fine sir

[Tate Morgan]

Emotion is the key to happiness and contentment lays the foundation to those feelings thank you