I take a walk by the village green |
I took a walk today in the village Where I live is a township But the village begins at our next-door neighbors House so the village is steps away I walked quickly, glad to be out Away from the house, the electronics The unceasing chatter of life The upslope of the street before me I strode over the old bridge And crossed at the intersection Passing the large, old houses That had stood there for generations I turned up an alleyway It possessed enough width for one car And one thin pedestrian At the same time I backed up for the minivan Stood between two shrubs Where the coffeeshop's property ends On cushiony green grass I headed to the post office and The local church---my church Crossed over to ancient tracks Where the train once ran I walked on the tracks, childlike Trying to step on the ties Each step until my usual Turn around place confronted me I went on, the Summer day beckoned me Followed more tracks until I reached the top Of a steep hill I started down slowly Felt the pavement beneath me An utterly unwanted surface Pitching me downward To my left lay the grassy Soft, inviting village green. I paused, then gave in to The appeal of verdant peace. My feet were happier I wanted to run, to dance And spin in circles, delighting In the sweet sponginess I walked across, looking At the bandstand lights For Friday night concerts Another bit of Summer here The green ended near The old Granary building Inside used for craft fairs Outside for farmers market. From there it was fine gravel Not so good as grass But still kinder to my feet As I walked ever more slowly Tarmac now, but a kinder hill Back by the post office Than the monster slope I left To daydream for awhile I thought of times past When trains were ridden By this way, no cars A working granary Generation filled houses In front of narrow sidewalks Made of concrete slabs Cracked by huge tree roots The spring-fed creek Full of ducks and trout Runs joyfully behind our homes Offering no pavement |