Old Gramps and the horses
Old Gramps and the horses …
Old Gramps and the horses .
He walked bent over at the waist most of the time
when his back was a’ killin’
I remember my father sitting beside him on the hay wagon
and me a boy on the load lose thrown and willing
Out of the fields the wagon tipping and me on top of that load
wondering ……..will I fall
And down the dirt road we’d go the horses the
wagon the hay and all
And a jug of “switchel” my father and gramps would tilt
swallowing again and again
Riding up over Long Hill stopping and resting the horses
waving hello to a friend
Down by the river fields watching the poplars sway in the wind
cool summer’s end and evening breeze
At dusk the hay all in the barn the horses wiped down
and feeding on grain in ease
Old gramps is long gone and no not really a gramp
but no finer man than he
Sitting me up on the horses back after work
and me only three
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Ed what a grand memory to share, I could just see it all in my minds eye. I too had fond memories of gramps taking me brook trout fishing, showing me his techniques. We can’t forget those great teachings and the fun watching them do it. Plowing the fields with horses must have been tough work, if only the younger generation could appreciate the toil of their forefathers and what they went through to help make America great. Thanks for sharing this Ed, I enjoyed it immensely.
Rich in memory and a warm hearted character from childhood. So well rendered with sharing those stark images and experiences from such a young age. Keep those stories coming down to the new generations, because it seems so removed and a wonder now, in this age of more complex life. Wonderful work Ed.
So nostalgic and a pleasure to read. Reminds me of my farm days when I tagged after Dad. Very nice work, Ed.