the lake and the towne

the lake waves roared and gulls flew swiftly 

as lives tumbled forward

Into new times and new friends;

always unexpected adventures.

years later i came back and walked on the pier

only slower and not so far out this time.

now i can satisfy myself by looking at old photographs

and pictures i'd painted years ago. 

there are memories. sweet memories we share

of times back then. you know when.

summer was ours. yes it was. 

we'd hear the coal dumper and the morning trains. 

remember?

we saw familiar people walking on main street.

you see one, recognize, and forgot his or her name;

almost recall, but not quite. you never thought some year you'd try to remember.

and there were people then i could recognize but never knew their names. 

their cars or trucks went by and a while past they would be familiar too, 

and we never gave it a second thought. 

i know driving by you couldn't help but look to see what was playing at the Ritz.

you'd smile. some time you'd have seen the movie

and now you'd drive to the next town to a decent theater.

or it was league night at the bowling alley.

maybe friends would come over for cards tonight or a beer.

no matter ... evenings went well.

these endless summers were ours.