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Grandma's Old Oak Tree

Grandma’s Old Oak tree

No backyard trees do I remember,
Tho cottonwood and mulberries lined street and walk,
So for this purpose one I’ll adopt one from
Grandma’s backyard for this poem’s talk.

A round old oak, too big to hug, sprawled o’er her big backyard,
Where three girls washed in an old wash pot out on an old washboard.
Smoke darkened the old tree’s under leafed belly,
All the more to shade the girls’ summer library.

So dense it was, it was nature’s dry hideaway,
One side the iron pot, on its arms a swing 
A pile of sand where all could play,
From there you could hear the children sing.

The old tree was old when its girls were young,
And lived ‘til their ripe old age;
For all I know it still lives to love
Another family turning its page.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Lovejoy-Burton Avatar
January 27, 2018 at 7:18 PM
I love this poem. My grandmother's backyard was filled with mulberry trees, pawpaw, banana trees, grapevines, passionfruit, tomatoes...as a young child it was an enchanted place to be...reading your poem brought all that back to me. Lovely that you had your grandma's backyard as a santuary and beautiful memories. One hopes it and the old tree is loved just as much by the other family/families.
Wanter Avatar
August 1, 2017 at 6:07 PM
I'm tickled to hear your comment.
Dietrich Avatar
August 1, 2017 at 6:04 PM
Have you gone back to see? (unless this is fictional). It is horrible to grow up with a big old tree and later return to find it has been torn down, or perhaps it died. I really like this.
Wanter Avatar
August 1, 2017 at 6:08 PM
I don't know what happened, my reply is above.
Dietrich Avatar
August 1, 2017 at 6:02 PM
In response to your shoes comment to me, you can never have too many shoes!! Now to your poem!
One Avatar
July 31, 2017 at 4:44 PM
Lovely poem...
Turner Avatar
July 29, 2017 at 6:41 PM
I am a tree hugger, so I like the poem. i have a lot tree memories myself, Sunlite:) My grandmother had an old weeping willow. I have some very fond memories of that old tree:)
Pigeon Tart Avatar
July 29, 2017 at 2:00 PM
I love this. I love your tree! xomo!
Berggren Avatar
July 29, 2017 at 1:47 PM
Such fond memories of your grandmother's back yard and the large oak tree. Nice poem i like very much.
Sands Avatar
July 29, 2017 at 12:46 PM
I really enjoyed reading this Sunlite. Thanks for telling us about that. Nice writing :)
Marcum Wong Avatar
July 29, 2017 at 12:46 PM
This is B e a u t i f u l Sunlite! I loved it! Have a great weekend! : )
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