The Old Farmstead

THE OLD FARMSTEAD by JOHN M. ARRIBAS So many sunsets since I last tread this lane Stirring deep seeded emotions so hard to contain I know it’s the same place where I grew The old farmstead is far from what I knew The house is sagging and in need of paint The porch swing’s colors are chipped and faint The porch steps creak as they did before The pond in the yard, not there anymore Once there were chickens and ducks abound Weeds and clutter now cover the ground The roof eaves are leaking, a somber sight What happened to cause the this terrible plight One by one we all left and went on our way Then just two uncle Willie and aunt May Willie passed away, a few years ago Their little garden abandoned no one to sow We’ve gathered here today to bid May “ bon voyage” Her roots were set so deep no one could dislodge I see my old friends it's such a surprise Some have changed so little I still recognize My cousin is here without his spouse She’s critically ill and can’t leave the house An old school chum made an arduous trek To visit his old “Nana” and pay his respect She looks so placid and finally at peace She toiled long and hard,it’s a relief She held us together for all these years She handled it all without shedding tears A simple pine box, so easy to lift Her final journey painfully swift There are six of us here to fill the bill Go behind the house and up to the hill Farmstead(2) There are nine grave markers she’ll be ten She’s the last one, then never again Lowered by rope to her final abode A part of the land she so often strode This old house will soon be razed Time will move to a different phase A large combine will soon plant these fields This rich loamy soil will give generous yields The tragedy for me is that no one will know The family adventure that made us glow In a few years all will be lost No one will know of the human cost The only remnant that time will not kill Are those ten little markers up on the hill