A Long Time Ago

Inside the nursing home
eyes roam freely via a window
of memory. Wrinkles loosen
into a smile
and he remembers…

a kid of twelve stepping
over limbs beside the creek,
sneakers soaked
eyes blue, bright and inquiring

brook trout and sweet smells
of summer calling
twitch in his willow pole like
his pappy taught him,
clunker of a catch mouthing
the worm

ma noticing well-traveled jeans
holes in the knees
need washin' often said,
mud-caked from sunny days
at Ogden’s Creek.

Memories never shy away.
Trickles warm his cheek
for a special time back then.

© Richard L. Provencher