Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Treasured Old Friend



                                                     The chains squeak oh so loudly
                                                     moving slowly against the wind
                                                     hanging down from the rafters
                                                     a treasured old friend to the end

                                                     Two sweethearts would still a kiss
                                                     in the midst of clear moonlight
                                                     moving ever so gently there
                                                     love spoke volumes each night

                                                    A moment in time stood still
                                                    so happy was that old swing
                                                    he kneeled down beside her
                                                    with a shiny, golden ring

                                                   Then it moved to and fro
                                                   as they sat side by side
                                                   watching their children grow
                                                   the old swing felt joy and pride

                                                   So happy were the days
                                                   with grandchildren swinging high
                                                   like the grandparents before them
                                                   it had a twinkle in its eye

                                                  So many years were well spent
                                                  it gracefully passed its prime
                                                  for the first time in its life
                                                  the old swing has nothing but time

                                                 And those sweet, cherished memories
                                                 although now a rusted soul
                                                 against the wind it squeaks loudly
                                                 how a lifetime came to unfold

                                                 Susie Swanson, 2012

Hope all of you enjoy my little tribute to my grandparent's Old Swing..Far back as I can remember that old swing hung on their front porch and oh my how I love to swing... I always wondered how long it had been there and my mother told me when she was a little girl her dad made it and hung it there..We had one when I was young but it wasn't as old as Pa and Ma's..(That's what we called them). Pa also made handles for tools such as Hoes, Shovels, etc.. He made them until he got disabled and had to give it up..He had one son that kept up the tradition..He still makes them today... Pa and Ma had ten children and there's only four living..he's the oldest one still living and he's 86 .. People in the community take their tools to him and he puts handles in them..He's got to the point now that his memory is not as good, (of course one wouldn't expect it to be at that age) but now when someone brings them his wife puts their name on them for him or he would never remember who they belonged to..My husband has taken several of his tools over the years and the handles are still good as new..For the big stuff like Hoes, Shovels, Axes, etc. he makes them out of Oak or other wood..For the small handles such as Hammers and such he makes them out of Hickory.. My brother works for the County on the Road Department and they carry alot of their tools to him too... He's getting more feeble now and not in the best of health, I figured he would've given it up a long time ago..His wife has tried to get him to, especially when he cut his hand really bad one time but nope he wouldn't see to it...
I don't know why I got off on such but that should be another poem for another day... I just talked myself into it..Anyways , Hope all is well and staying cool., yes summer is finally here in our little neck of the woods.Suppose to be up in the 90's this week..You all take care.. Susie
     
                                                  

                                                   

26 comments:

  1. My maternal grandparents had two such swings on their porch, and the man who lived across the road from my house was a handle-maker (and blacksmith).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Gorges, there were a lot of handle makers around back then..

      Delete
  2. Beautiful, ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, write, Susie.
    TTFN ~
    Have a great eve ~
    Hugs,
    Marydon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Marydon, hope you have a goodnight too..

      Delete
  3. Brings back fond memories for me!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Susie, I also have memories of an old swing. We had one in our yard when I was growing up... YES---it was a squeaky one also...

    I also have great memories of a squeaky old screen door on our home... You'll need to write a poem about one of them sometime...

    Great poem. I enjoyed it.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Betsy, glad you can relate..Yes I'll probably write about an old squeaky door next..We sure had plenty of them..

      Delete
  5. That was beautiful, Susie~ it reminded me of the old metal swing my grandmother had on her porch and how it would creak when the chain moved.
    I also enjoyed the story behind your family's swing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Paula,they all seem to squeak, didn't they..

      Delete
  6. Lovely poem about your memories of your swing, I have not so old memories of going down slides, mad I know but it keeps one young.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Yvonne, I remember reading that on your posts..We all are a kid at heart sometimes..

      Delete
  7. I love this, Susie. Many memories come from that old swing. We had a swing on the porch when I was a little girl. I wish we had one again now.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Honey
    I don't think I will ever set on my swing again without thinking of you and your lovely poem.
    Loved reading about your precious Pa. Such lovely memories.
    Your a sweetheart and I love visiting you.
    Love
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Maggie so much, I love my visits with you to..

      Delete
  9. What a beautiful memory! Brings back my own memories of swinging, and I still love to swing...morning coffee with my Mountain Man every day on our beloved swing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you Lise, I wish I could join you..I bet it's peaceful on your mountain..

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello dear sweet Susie. I love you poem as usual, about the swing...yes if it could talk it would have many tales to tell...
    How great for your grandfather to be making those handles and giving new life to a tool.Coming from the huge family as he did, it probably gave him a respect to look after tools and he has kept that. New tools today are so cheap and weak...not made to last as they used to be. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so true Crystal, I'm glad you liked it..Thanks.

      Delete
  12. Susie, Some times your poems touch so deep in my heart. My mom always wanted a swing on a porch. She had one for many years before she passed away. I am so thankful for that. The tale of your grandfather passing down his talent and thinking of the now 86 year old making the handles...just makes me tear up. We need to love our elders as long as we can. Enjoy this weekend . Smiles, Susie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Susie, such sweet words..They mean alot to me..Yes we do need to love them, they have lived through so much and learn to get by on what little they had..

      Delete
  13. Susie,
    That is lovely...I think a porch swing is a necessity in any home to sit and ponder the world. You describe it so well.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Susie-this one reminded me of my Granny Gazzie's prorch swing-thats were all the kids went to sit : )

    tipper

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love porch swings. I swung all my babies to sleep on the one on our porch. My son loves to build things and do things different now and then. He's been making handles for a bunch of old tools that we got from my dad and my husband's step dad when they passed away.

    ReplyDelete