4298 Washington Street

Four Two Nine Eight Washington Street My childhood address A place where neighbors were not afraid to spank us And mothers handed out homemade cookies without fear of being arrested Four Two Nine Eight Washington Street A place where we could hear Mrs.McGill's laughter day and night Knowing she was watching her game shows, fancing herself on one A place where neighbors took collections when people died And fathers showed everyone's son how to fish and hunt not just their own son Four Two Nine Eight Washington Street A small house, but filled with love A porch whose railings usually housed six or eight neighbors A yard full of marigolds and one lone cottonwood tree A yard where the neighborhood children all played "The ghost is out tonight" at eight p.m. and no one thought about anyone being abducted. Four Two Nine Eight Washington Street A place that is much smaller now, that I am older and taller But a place I can travel to whenever I want, in my mind An innocent place. A loving place. A childhood place. A safe place. For sure.