Block 66

A Porch Swing

I have just come

to the realization

that a porch swing

is the outdoor equivalent

of a rocking chair.

Many a day

I spent on the

porch swing

in my youth.

I can remember

sitting between

Grandma  and Mom . . .

watching the my world

go by

in front of the house.

As I grew,

I got yelled at a lot.

I liked to swing

from left to right

instead of back and forth.

I always

ended up

hitting the siding

on the porch.

That would always

elicit my Mom

to call my name

letting me know 

she heard me

and I better quit.

 I'd quit for a while,

then start all over,

this time

being careful

not to hit the house.

When I moved home

Mom gave me 

Grandma's porch swing.

I used it

until last year.

It was held together

with twine.

The screws 

were unmovable

and the hooks 

had pulled out of

the wood.

It hurt me

to put it out

with the trash . . . 

but it had to be done.

I kept it long enough

to finally find one

that

"fit my butt."

I know

it had to be at least

58 years old, 

since that's my age.

But

I always wondered

how long Grandma

had it before I was  born.

Maybe one of these days

I will find an old picture

with it on the porch

to give me an idea.

I L-O-V-E

to swing.

The rhythmic movement,

and the squeak of the springs,

can lull me into 

an almost hypnotic state.

I can sit there by the hour

and not realize

how much time I

have spent there.

I always

sit with my back

against the arm

and my legs 

up on the seat.

The only time my feet

touch the floor 

is when I need to

get it "swinging" again. 

If I ever built a house,

I would make 

a rustic family room

with exposed beams.

There would be hooks

in the beams

so I could have a swing

in the room.

Ah-h-h-h-h,

wouldn't that be

the perfect way

 to relax inside. 

Dear  Lord,

Thank you for the peace and quiet a swing provides. No matter what time of the day or night, no matter what season, it is always there beckoning me to sit down and enjoy a swing. Peace and relaxation are eminent.

Amen

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