Back To the Lake

I live in Upper Westchester County and pass the Croton Reservoir daily on my way to the train station. One particular late evening at the studio found me traveling home a dawn. As I pass the reservoir the sight of the fog and the smell of the water brought this on.

Back to the Lake

Ahh the smell...
Of fresh cut grass and fish on ice.
Of vee-bottom boats with peeling paint 
that you bail with rusty coffee cans.
Whose oar-locks creak with every stroke
lubricated by drippy oars as you creep
across the foggy expanse.

Morning comes early at the lake.
Old fishing lures with rusty hooks 
and fishing poles with tangled lines.
Barefoot boys with sleepy eyes make 
their way to the crooked dock of rotting boards.
Water laps at the side of the boat as they embark
on fish story fantasies full of white lies.
Ahh the lake. I am glad to have come again.

— Bill Lindsay
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Brown Avatar
August 1, 2012 at 5:35 AM
A warm welcome to PoetrySoup I offer to you Bill. I wish for you the best in your writing endeavors whatever they may be. Hoping you find even more inspiration by reading some of the poetry written here by other poets. May the sun shine on you that you might find great joy in your life. Love, Carol O8/01/2012
Culverhouse Avatar
August 1, 2012 at 5:14 AM
you paint a nice scene for my morning coffee!!
Bauer Avatar
August 1, 2012 at 4:25 AM
you've painted a wonderful picture of the reservoir in the early morning. nicely done!
Williams Avatar
August 1, 2012 at 1:47 AM
Bill, although I live in the UK, I actually know this reservoir, I absolutely love the image you have portrayed in your poem, it is excellent, well done..David
Roberts Avatar
August 1, 2012 at 12:25 AM
great imagery, I very much enjoyed this
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