NYA - North Yarmouth Academy

the ivy crunches ‘neath my boot cold sounds that crisp the winds a snow has left its whitened soot not just the ground but with age found my head and cheeks … and chin … I walked here in my younger years these vines then new and green my heart baptized with callow tears from then ‘til now each solemn vow and all oaths in-between … the mem’ries of this green-clad place disturb my thoughts to yearn for how these buildings did embrace each soul and mind that searched to find through toil, what it could learn … I stumbled there from brick to brick thru schoolwork, loves and friends but most of life came much too quick and good or bad that bumbling lad climbed ropes too near their ends … now here I stroll those bricks, the same day’s close paints pink, the reach I see each face, each smile, each name of those, then dear but now, I fear too far-flung to beseech … still, priceless are the days now gone and precious through their end for mem’ries push me always on to quite adore life making more sweet days like this to wend … sweet days … like THIS. Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, March 11, 2024 ( photograph of my prep school, North Yarmouth Academy, taken from my 1976 yearbook )