Temporary Paths

Through days of youth I’d wander

Every location a spot of wonder

Country roads to somewhere

Dirt trails to nowhere

Fishing poles, swimming holes

Best friend by my side

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Together we crawled, walked, ran, stumbled

Certain by life we’d never be humbled

Racing Pell Mell through fields of wheat

Playing ball in the dusty street

Sleep overs, camping trips

Paper planes, toy ships

Corn mazes, square dances, carnivals, clowns

Childhood laughter, occasional frowns

Knowing together we could conquer all

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Through forests of oak, pine, cedar

Every moment of joy we’d seize her

Climb to a hayloft full of mystery

In ramshackle barn full of history

Roll in straw, laugh, jump, play

Revel in each other every day

Search under rocks for slimy slugs

Chase elusive lightning bugs

Laugh at their light in a jar

Transporting us to fantastical places afar

Certain someday we’d go there together

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Hide and seek

Sneak a peek

Ollie, Ollie, oxen free

Come out here so we can see

Treehouses, blanket forts, tents

Seeking out tomorrow’s little hints

We walked to school together

In warmth, cold, rain, any weather

Kicking at cans, talking about a shared future

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Our first date was a double in dad’s old car

Our first kisses in opposite seats so near, so far

Flushed faces, fumbling, heat, red cheeked shame

Trying to solve mystery without inherent blame

We dropped off the girls and went to the river

Drank snuck beers, laughed, clapped, shivered

Not knowing that youth is not forever

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Then came that day when final exam was done

Walked down graduation aisle, our day in the sun

I went away to collge, you went off to war

Slowly letters dropped off then there came no more

Our days never meant to end

Slipped away on errant wind

Too busy too keep in touch

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I heard today you met your end a hero

Neath the guns of a Japanese Zero

Truly I wish we had not lost touch

My heart rends, I miss you so much

I’ll walk again that old country lane

On your grave I’ll place a ball, a ship, a plane

Just please forgive me for not being there

Your every triumph or defeat to share

Someday we’ll see each other again

This I pray… I love you my friend