Missouri Childhood      

                                   Once I was young under the locust trees

                                              And living in sultry Missouri.

I climbed down the creaky oak stairway--

 I stole away out the door.

Outdoors was my domain in those summer days.

I was a slender child in Columbia, Missouri

Playing in the daisy dappled meadows

And skating down the knee scabbed pavement.

Barefoot on the grassy lawn.

 Missouri cicadas buzzed all the night long.

So I lay on the clover strewn lawn

And  gazed up at the starry night

Breathed  locust blossom scented air—

And I went to bed dreaming of ghost ships

Circling the globe on sea currents

As horned owls flew past my open windows.

Then time carried me far away

From places where I lioved to play--

Looks like I am in Michigan to stay.

Water in a clear babbling creek

Changes course

And sings as it flows along—songs of

 Where it has been

And what is yet to be.