#58 HOUSE AT THE LAKE
#58 HOUSE AT THE LAKE
(Country)
Tall pines, sun sparkling on bright blue,
White clapboard, porch facing the water.
Tire swing -- cold splash -- all summer long,
Mom lit up when dad first brought her
And then for me and my sisters,
Each year, July mornings, August days.
On the boat -- skipping rocks -- cook-outs,
Mom laughs, dad smiles, porch swing sways.
It lives in my mind.
Moments I can't shake,
My house at the lake,
My house at the lake
A dad now, bring my own family,
Boat with son, on porch with daughter.
Card games, long family dinners,
We're at our best by the water.
My Janey loves frogs and lizards,
On our walks, squeals when she finds one.
Jars them, then her brother lets them loose,
Wife watches, smiling, takes in the sun.
It lives in my mind.
Moments I can't shake,
Our house at the lake,
Our house at the lake
Last summer, she trips on a frog walk,
Large bruise that wouldn't heal at all.
Weeks of tests, then the specialist,
Whose sad dark eyes tell it all.
Kitchen table, looking out at back yard,
Pretend for a breath, it's all a mistake.
Small voice calls out, wife goes to see,
Comes back -- "She wants to be at the lake."
It lives in my mind.
Moments I can't shake,
The house at the lake,
The house at the lake
Porch swing, after she's gone,
Cold wind -- wood smoke -- grey dawn.
Wife and son headed home,
I just swing there alone.
No thinking, nothing planned
Empty jar in my hand.
Snow coming down, but roads still clear,
Holiday drive with my new wife.
Familiar road, park just to look,
Clapboard painted, porch kept up nice.
The house lively, holiday party,
Faint laughter, smell mulled wine in the air.
See through the front window,
Large Christmas tree, baby's high chair.
It lives in my mind.
Moments I can't shake,
That house at the lake,
That house at the lake.
In the rearview, driving away past the shore,
The house fades until I can't see it anymore.