(This is from Dan Well's Summer Poetry Challenge.)
The poem I chose to memorize for this week is actually the lyrics to a song. The words were written by Michael Williams and sung by John Denver. It seems especially as the warm summer days are here and kids are enjoying their time off from school.
Catch Another Butterfly
Do you remember days not so very long ago
When the world was run by people twice your size
And the days were full of laughter and the nights were full of stars
And when you grew tired you could close your eyes
Yes the stars were were there for wishing
and the wind was there for kites
And the morning sun was there for rise and shine
And even in the sniffles kept you home from school in bed
You couldn't hardly stay there after nine
And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song that sparkled in the sky
Where's all the water gone that tumbled down the stream
Will I ever catch another butterfly
Do you remember campouts right in your own backyard
And wondering how airplanes could fly
And the hours spent just playing with a funny rock you found
With crystal specks as blue as all the sky
And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song that sparkled in the sky
Where's all the water gone that tumbled down the stream
Will I ever catch another butterfly
Now I watch my son, he's playing with his toys
He's happy and I give him all I can
But I can't help feeling just a little tingling inside
When to hear him say, he wants to be a man
And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song that sparkled in the sky
Where's all the water gone that tumbled down the stream
Will I ever catch another butterfly
Will I ever catch another butterfly
When the world was run by people twice your size
And the days were full of laughter and the nights were full of stars
And when you grew tired you could close your eyes
Yes the stars were were there for wishing
and the wind was there for kites
And the morning sun was there for rise and shine
And even in the sniffles kept you home from school in bed
You couldn't hardly stay there after nine
And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song that sparkled in the sky
Where's all the water gone that tumbled down the stream
Will I ever catch another butterfly
Do you remember campouts right in your own backyard
And wondering how airplanes could fly
And the hours spent just playing with a funny rock you found
With crystal specks as blue as all the sky
And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song that sparkled in the sky
Where's all the water gone that tumbled down the stream
Will I ever catch another butterfly
Now I watch my son, he's playing with his toys
He's happy and I give him all I can
But I can't help feeling just a little tingling inside
When to hear him say, he wants to be a man
And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song that sparkled in the sky
Where's all the water gone that tumbled down the stream
Will I ever catch another butterfly
Will I ever catch another butterfly
What do you miss from your childhood? What did you surrender in your rush to adulthood that, looking back, you wish you could have kept?
I regret losing those long summers, although they were taken rather than given up.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
@mooderino
Beautiful lyrics that capture poignant memories. I miss the feeling that time went on forever and the joy in the simple things.
ReplyDeleteEllie Garratt
Oh what good times. Lovely memories and summery happiness from those lyrics! Thanks for posting! Makes me want to just do something fun and silly and carefree outside just because.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes miss that freedom of childhood, when we spent hours playing outside. Sitting on the wooden dumpster pretending it was a pirate ship, or running a "restaurant" under the magnolia tree, making mud pies and serving leaf and grass burgers :) Everything was a toy or a possibility for adventure.
ReplyDeleteSo now and then, do something that you would have done as a kid. Make a fort out of couch cushions or run outside bare foot in the rain. If you really let yourself go, you really will feel like a kid again, even if only for a few minutes. It's good for the heart.
That sounds wonderful, and eventhough we can't revert to childhood, there's no real reason why we can't set aside some time to play or admire the butterflies.
ReplyDeleteI agree, everyone. There's a sense of wonder that we too often lose as we grow up. We forget to take the time to look at the beauties around us--that "funny rock you found
ReplyDeleteWith crystal specks as blue as all the sky" and savor the moment. I feel that especially in summer, when as children we had the freedom that comes from no school and a seemingly endless summer before us, a summer of so many possibilities.
I miss when summer meant more free time. :(
ReplyDeleteWe don't have summers where I live. We have two seasons, winter and road construction.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though. I LOVED this post. It brought back those days when a bike ride was an adventure, when chasing dandelions seeds through the air was more like chasing amulets.
And I LOVE John Denver. Hope that doesn't make this 50+ yrs young man weird.
John Denver was such a beautiful singer! I don't remember that particular song, but love the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteRobin, oh yes. And the days were so long. Time goes by so quickly now--and you're young enough to be my daughter so you don't understand yet just how bad it'll be. Time just slips through our fingers.
ReplyDeleteBryce, as another 50+ young person, you are not weird.
Lora, this is one of my favorite John Denver songs because of the emotional response it triggers in me.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog, and I'm loving yours already! My parents' AND my wedding song was "Annie's Song" by John Denver... Very special!
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