Circle tree

[clawmute]

(non-fiction)

Mostly still now except for when
A breeze comes strolling by
on summer days of southern sun
In a cloudless timeless sky

gripped with emotion as thoughts returned
Of that circle under the tree
a flood of memories rolling in
and tears rolling out of me

so long ago and then its not
that circle came alive
then swung without the slightest breeze
and arced against the sky

powered by the smallest hands
pendulum circle filled
with laughing children holding to
the swing out on the hill

amazing how just like that tire
the days go arcing by
so swiftly you can’t count them
as back and forth they fly

children’s voices slowly fade
to breezes from the past
that brush against my spirit
and cool life’s painful blast

It arcs no more the circle there
except when storms storm by
but always in my secret heart
It arcs against the sky

they’re all grown now except for some
that didn’t stay to grow
God took two and left us two
just why I’ll never know

but I won’t be angry when I think
of the tire hung from that tree
I’ll think of two he took to him
and two he left to be

for my heart and spirit arc between
today and days gone by
so I have them all times with me
my children by my side