On West 140, one time long ago

On West 140, one time long ago Horses pulled the plow to make our basement, station wagons took us to church We had to dress nice on Sundays, after church maple trees gave young boys a perch Grandma told how the old dirt roads gave way to progress, most of the memories paved As I grew up many stories got passed down, some are forgotten, some forever saved I know there were times of struggle that’s true, but plenty merrier ones and I should know I danced and ate and played games and laughed growing up on  West 140, one time long ago Blessed with our matriarch on the corner, you see she was the life blood that pumped the heart Most of the merrier times I knew as a boy, Grandma’s house on the corner was where they’d start You see despite moving miles away Grandma’s gang returned every weekend for good food and a game They’d play Sheepshead in the kitchen, weekends seemed no matter what like clockwork they came Could always hear my old man cursing for losing, but laughter took precedence at Grandma’s you know Seems no matter what she was always smiling, my beautiful grandma on west 140, one time long ago Progress as it’s known to often do demolished the place where love created much more than good hope Where a young boy who struggled to understand could always run to cope A yard where dreams of playing in the big leagues using trees as bases Memories of backyard fires as a young man, damn nothing ever replaces Tip my head back, close my eyes and try to picture the barn I used to know That was way back when I was a boy living on West 140, one time long ago Tim Windisch 02/16/2023