Thursday, August 25, 2011

Just A Country Girl


                                             I've walked down country roads
                                             and through winding trails
                                             built a playhouse in the woods
                                             and became tough as nails

                                            Ate fresh vegetables from a garden
                                            as fast as they could grow
                                            canned food in mason jars
                                            enough to last the winter snow

                                            Oh the patience of wash day
                                            became the whole day at the most
                                            clotheslines were hung a plenty
                                            and even on the fence posts

                            
                                             Picked blackberries in the summer
                                             jelly and jam making began
                                             the itching was so unpopular
                                             when the chiggers settled in

                                             Pieced quilt scraps together
                                             and learned from the very best
                                             patched holes in the knees of britches
                                             was the worst job, I do confess

                                             Milking time with the cow
                                             was an experience by far
                                             but that good homemade buttermilk
                                             was the best from the churn jar


                                   
                                            Carried in the night's wood
                                            and buckets of water from the spring
                                            being raised in a big family
                                            water and wood was a popular thing

                                           Playing hop scotch in the yard
                                           after the yard was swept clean
                                           never did have any grass
                                           no need for a mowing machine

                                           Counting stars and laying in a field
                                           on a country moon light night
                                           or watching the clouds form
                                           every imaginery shape in sight


                                       Talking country is my way
                                       and I may stand apart
                                       but I'm proud of my country roots
                                       and my big country heart

                                      I'm just a country girl
                                      that's all I've ever known
                                      cut from a country pattern
                                      born, bred and grown

                                     Susie Swanson

This is my very first poem that I posted and where Countrysidepoet got it's start. Hope you enjoy... Blessings, Susie

     

15 comments:

  1. Oh Susie, this brings back childhood memories ~ Wash-day Monday ~ water from the pump house ~ burning our own garbage out back ~ learning to sew crazy quilts ~ we had a coal stove ~ vegetable garden ~ home made bread and preserves ~ Apple trees, raspberry bushes, strawberry plants ~ I don't know how my Mom did it all! Thanks for taking me down memory lane ~

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  2. Thank you Helena, I'm glad you enjoyed it and the memories are mutual. Those were the good old days...Susie

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  3. This is so special! The playhouse in the woods, the buttermilk, washday -- it's all there. And we also swept around the back door; chicken feathers, cow patties, etc. :) Loved it all!!

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  4. WOW! I love it! I love everythign you write though. This is amazing! I think I have done a few of those counrty girl experiences. What a wonderful way of life and to grow up. So simple
    Blessings

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  5. It's a wonderful poem to start off with. I so enjoyed the read and look forward to many more,

    Yvonne.

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  6. Yes, you sure were a country girl.

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  7. Such wonderful images in this poem, Susie. I can see it all so clearly in my mind. Very nice! :)

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  8. Thank you to all, I'm as country as they come. Of course you all have already discovered that.. I cherish every comment, thanks for stopping by...Susie

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  9. How neat, Susie... Glad you posted this one ---and from that was 'born' a blog... Isn't that neat???

    Love it... I'm a country girl ---but we didn't have any farm animals. SO--maybe I'm more of a mountain gal!!!!!
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  10. Ahhh, Susie! You write so beautifully. Love each & every share ...

    Have a wonderful weekend.
    TTFN ~
    Hugs,
    Marydon

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  11. Thank you Betsy, I'm a mountain girl and a country girl. Thanks for the visit.

    Thank you Marydon, so glad you enjoy them. I enjoy each one of your posts also..Blessings, Susie

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  12. Very beautifully said! Loved this poem.

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  13. This is great! Thank you for sharing your poem and memories.

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  14. Thank you Mama-Bug and Connie, so glad you enjoyed it and thank you all for sharing your writes and posts...Susie

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  15. Hi Susie, what a beautiful poem! I think you really captured what it means to be a country girl and to love your life and be proud of who you are, what you do and where you came from! What beautiful memories, I especially enjoyed the first stanza about building playhouses in the woods and being tough as nails! It reminded me of being 10 years old again and running bare foot with my friends, with my skinned up knees and suntanned skin, oblivious to the heat, lost in a game of tag! Have a lovely evening ahead Susie and until next time...love Delisa :)

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