We decided to build a house
We decided to build a house
It was that part of time before school
the leaves had started turning
and the reeds in the swamp had died
But there was still time so my brothers
sister and I decided to make a house
I remember the tree grew funny
one half right up in the sky
the other straight down like a hand
reaching for the dirt and making good bones for the house
A rusty garden knife and long bladed scissors
snipped through the marsh reeds
we gathered "bushels" to tie to the branches
so many for so long, it took us half a week
Old kite string secured our reed walls
and we set more reeds on the ground
It was a very pleasant house
I think we moved on after a while
and I remember seeing it in the early snow
from our kitchen window
I felt affronted and a little sad when it
fell down in the spring.
Ask me who I am and I'll tell you a story
of late summer nights
and the kids who built a house.