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The Summer of '76
by Cathlyn Cartier
Playing baseball in the freshly mown hayfield;
one ball, one bat, no glove.
When we played "shirts and skins"
she was the only "skin" with pigtails.
Running fast, climbing higher,
peering from the highest branches of the tallest trees;
feasting on fresh figs and dewberries,
until our faces and fingers were stained the color of wine.
Catching crawfish and "blood pinchers"
in rain swollen ditches.
The innocence of childhood;
growing up "country" on the outskirts of Big City.
Running barefoot through the fields,
across gravel and oyster shell,
until Big City began to spread it's blackened tar fingers into our realm;
discovering that asphalt was a place we couldn't cross with our naked soles.
Suddenly youthful innocence was extinguished,
and a blonde-haired, pig-tailed earth child was forced to don the garments of the civilized world.
08/20/2003 Author's Note: August "30 Somethings" Challenge entry
Posted on 08/22/2003
Copyright © 2024 Cathlyn Cartier
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Max Bouillet on 08/22/03 at 10:28 PM Tremendous imagery that really speaks out against the effects of urban sprawl and the loss of innocence that so often accompanies it. Great read. |
| Posted by Leslie Ann Eisenberg on 08/23/03 at 12:39 AM As a 30 something I have these memories. It was nice to read about that carefree time again. My kids don't run free like I did in the dirty creek, the woods, and neighboring construction sites. |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 08/23/03 at 01:08 AM Wonderful nostalgia. Took me back to my own childhood on the farm! *sigh* Those days are gone forever! |
| Posted by Brian Francis on 08/24/03 at 02:08 PM Ahh yes growin up does suck in many ways. Nice poem
--bf |
| Posted by Rusty C Arquette on 08/24/03 at 03:09 PM We may all grow up in different places, but we all share in the casual beauty and innocence of growing up. Some experience remain bittersweet while others are full of joy, either way it's grand to look at them afresh. - Thanx for a look back - RCat |
| Posted by JD Clay on 08/24/03 at 06:20 PM A nostalgic treat if ever there was one, Cathlyn.
Those were the days! Skins, huh, where was I? Hmmm, now I remember, 1976 was a toga party at the frat house, oh yeah!
Peace... |
| Posted by Adrian Calhoun on 08/26/03 at 02:52 PM Boy does that bring back fond chilhood memories, but not too many as I was only 3 for the majority of '76 : P (haha!)Seriously though, a great reading piece and a time well captured/reflected. Innocence may indeed be gone now, but it is still "golden." Great work my friend. |
| Posted by Don Coffman on 08/30/03 at 09:01 AM A wonderful memory of childhood, excellent done. I never lived outside the suburbs, but I'm very much reminded of some land that used to be in the family, played there a lot, now covered with houses and quicky-marts. Here's to the good old days. |
| Posted by Agnes Eva on 01/02/04 at 06:02 PM this has such a playful youthful vibe! that's the year i was born too ;) |
| Posted by D. James McKee on 02/11/10 at 11:58 AM This is just lovely! It makes me want to kick off my shoes and rip through the tall grass till my soles are stained green. I can't wait for summer.
This one goes to my favourites list for sure!
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