THE GOOD

The thing about that summer

was the long walks along the

isolated country roads of Wisconsin.

The everything green tinged with blue…  

Pristine barns decorated the countryside

and dairy herds colored the air.

Tinny rock and roll poured from the

transistor radio in my shirt pocket, and

painted my bones with permanent ink.

An old bridge crossed a deep stream

shaded by maples and oaks.

We lingered there while brown

trout whoshed their tails between

dapples in the calm water,

waiting for another mayfly.

And that’s what I remember

even more than the desire

you lit in my furnace and still

burns through the rest

of everything I ever did.

When I look around for

what that means,

hear the people created there

speak to me, hear them cry,

watch them fall and rise again...

My people, who paint with words,

and effortless movement of dance,

who love from their skin down to the

splitting of soul and spirit,

I want to return there,

and stay to the end.

Reviews

[LisaCarol]

Vol - I have never been to Wisconsin, but the imagery in this poem made me feel as if I were there. I remember transistor radios as well. How simple life seemed in those days with only a few choices of what stations we could listen to. Now, we are bombarded with too many choices. As you’ve said before . . . The Yin and Yang of life. This was another, very good write.

[Vol]

It is only beautiful in the summer, which does not usually last all the way to the equinox

[FlaLover]

This reminds me of my grandparents house in Alabama. I was blessed growing up with grandparents in the country and my mother preferred the beach scene.
Beautifully written!

[Vol]

I'm a Pensacola native... where in Fl were/are you?

[FlaLover]

Pensacola!! I love everything about Pensacola. I grew up there and go back frequently. I prefer being on the beach more than anywhere else. The warm sun, waves gently crashing on the shore, and breathing the fresh air rejuvenates me and dissolves the stress in my life temporarily. Hence the reason for going back often.

[Vol]

FlaLover,
Cool!!! What High School did you go to? Woodham, class of 1967 for me.
Vol

[Winter]

One of my favourite poems I've read so far, It reminds me of the walks I used to take just to get my mind of things. This is deep, I love it ❤️!

[Vol]

I was 20, she 18... n o jobs, no bills, no responsibilities... 1969 truly was my summer of love...

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This was beautiful to read, like a snapshot from the picture book of life.

[Vol]

Imagery always smells good...

[Dylan Macadham]

Ah yes, the burning memories of youth, the memories that last :)

[Vol]

Dylan,
I remember reading once that your music between 16 and 23 will be be your music for life...
Vol

[Dylan Macadham]

Hi Vol ...funny, my life's music is pre-teen :)

[Vol]

Bubblegum rock?

[Dylan Macadham]

Haha, Answering that'd give away my age :)

[Vol]

The Archies... Tommy Roe and the Romans, The Brady Bunch... the list is endless

[Dylan Macadham]

The Brady what?🤣

[Desert Knave]

Very pretty. My childhood's favorite vacations were summers in southern Illinois and the imagery here reminds me of then. ~Jim

[Gee]

So descriptive and a joy to read Vol.
I still put the radio on when the weather is okay enough to sit outside preferring to listen rather than watch sport if a decent commentator is at the game.
Hope you are well. Good morning

[Vol]

Gee,
Must have been a very early morning for you, 12 hours ago CST would have been 1:15... I was just turning off the lights... Thank you, The easiest things for me to write about are those memories burned into my memory like a branded calf. Good afternoon!
Vol

[Gee]

Hi Vol, would have been between 06:00 and 06:30, just before getting ready for a day out on a construction site.

[Vol]

I should have known... You are in GB!

[redd Brick Keshner]

As do I! Had a blue Tandy radio with dial tuning and off/on + volume dial. It ran on double A’s … I could imagine the plains as I have never been there. With this poem I feel like I’ve been.

[Vol]

Red,
Why, Thank you, sir. Wisconsin is beautiful between mid Ma and mid September, unless you lopve snow and below 0 temps... But the bars are the best America has to offer.

[Poetic Beauty]

This is a beautiful scene you paint of tress full of life and life being lived with energy and love.

[Vol]

It was the summer of love, for real...1969

[Poetic Beauty]

That is awesome. 10 years before I was born. Sounds like it was an amazing adventure

[Vol]

It was a sweet time, indeed! PB...Young love lasts forever.

[Poetic Beauty]

Maybe…
I have had profound loves since so those are the one the stay with me. Each person those has had an impact on me in lesson or in blessing.

[Vol]

When it come to love, it needs to be so big you can't see the end...

[Poetic Beauty]

We have different loves at different times in our life I believe at least for me. The one that has no ending lives in Arizona. I miss him greatly. I’ve learned on to let that love weigh me down and make me feel depressed with not being with him. I just let the love live.

[Vol]

The world is paved with sharp stones and broken glass, the arms of love are one of its few safe spots... NEVER miss the opportunity!

[Poetic Beauty]

It’s complicated with my ex in Arizona. If he wants to try again it’s on him this time. A long story that spans over 15 years. We talk a few times a week and tell each other everything. To much to say

[Vol]

PB,
Why'd you split?

[Poetic Beauty]

He missed home which is Arizona and I didn’t want him to stay for me. I saw how much he miss his mom and dad and sister and her family. So I left him.

[Poetic Beauty]

While I was still madly deeply in love with him. I was miserable without him but I had my family and my son

[Vol]

PB,
I guess we are all confronted withlife-changing choices at times, and don't really know which is better. If he moved back, how do you think that would turn out?
Vol

[Poetic Beauty]

To be honest I don’t think he would have left without me. It is the most selfless thing I have done in my whole life. He wouldn’t have wanted me to take my son so far away from my family. Him and my son still talk and get along.

[Poetic Beauty]

My son who is now 24 years old told me a few years ago he doesn’t want any step dad unless it’s Jesse. That’s is his real name. I call him Beasty as a nickname.

[Vol]

Well, what's stopping you?

[Poetic Beauty]

A lot of things…

[Vol]

It's called life, like I've always said, it's poison.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Every poem you write, peels back another layer of excellence that is the make-up of who you are as a poet. With every poem, it's personified, and I truly enjoy discovering you!

[Vol]

Well, Kelly,
You think my poems are pretty......
It is always a delight when you show up, Kelly...
Vol

[Vol]

And may I also say, It is nice to be discovered by one such as you...
Vol

[Kelly Scheppers]

...thank you, Vol!