I'd been eyeing the crotch
Of that old poplar tree
From my bedroom window
Since I was six

It was perfect
For a tree house

I saved all the scraps I could
From the construction site up the road
In a crowded corner of Dad's garage
Keeping the plans in my head

Winter broke with a gentle thaw
As the woodpeckers and I
Worked overtime hammering
The tree full of holes and
Way too many nails

With the first leaf of spring
I hung the sign over the door and
A worn out beach towel
Over the lop-sided window facing west
I had wall-to-wall shag carpet
And a roof that leaked but
After all every tree house
Needs a skylight

Dangling my feet
From the open doorway
I could see all the way
Through summer
Shimmering leaves for shade and
A long rope ladder I pulled up
To plot and plan
And dream

I camped up there the first three days
With a stack of comic books
I used for a pillow
My old sleeping bag with a broken zipper
A dim flashlight and
Two canteens full of Kool-Aid

Yeah it was a little cool at night but
I would have stayed another week
If I had more Twinkies



~jadi~


Previously posted on Wordchimes.

03/06/2002

Posted on 03/06/2002
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