FOR MY GRANDCHILDERN

The Castle Camelot

A castle planked, plotted and planed,

Built for my grandchildren,

Grandchildren grand,

A three-storied masterpiece, Nestled ‘mongst trees,

Slides, swings, house with a loft,

Even a screen door and windows to let in the breeze,

A ramp, sand, mid-deck with floor,

Enter at your own risk, nailed to the door,

A rope slide to escape and enter,

For one shinning moment,

It was the center,

Of all that mattered.

Screams and laughter,

Spend the night joy,

A thing of wonder,

To a neighborhood of boys.

Built as a young man full of piss and vinegar,

i swear i built it to last forever,

But forever is gone and girls and boys too,

Who ever thunk it, who ever knew,

That they grow up so fast,

And a’ways leave the nest,

And the castle in the woods,

That was built to last.

Life is so fleeting,

They grow up so fast,

The days seem too long,

The months past so fast.

Built for my grandchildren,

Men, now and gone,

i’m left with sweet memories,

i’m left all alone.

i was born the last century.

And traveled so far.

But my journey now over,

My purpose ajar.

A castle built for my children’s children,

The very reason i passed through,

This world to pursue, was,

This magnificent castle,

i built for you.

9/20/2020

Author’s Note: The castle is family, the reason for the author‘s existence. The castle still stands today in Chapin, South Carolina, delighting still younger and younger boys and girls. Best read, along with the Epic song by Neil Diamond, “For My Children.”