A Peaceful Place

As sleep eludes me, I scurry to my special place On the bus, I go, far, far, away. of sights and smells, held in times remembered a childhood dream, a memory still. Never on a bus before, never to visit my poppy, Up the river camping, away from all the noise. Past farms and streams, past mountains and trees, Finally, I found him, waiting beside his billy boiled. Dropping all memories of school, shoes and socks removed, toes wiggling in crunchy sand, oh the thrill! Cookies and milk, swimmers and hat, bean tin in hand, hunting worms, boat waiting, water lapping, lapping. Found! long red, slippery worms, soil and all in tin, Into the boat, clunking, rocking, water lapping, lapping. Swoock! Boat on sand, knocking, knocking, water lapping, lapping, Breeze kissing, sun smacking, oars reaching, reaching. Anchor in, rods ready! Poppy loads the worms, 'swing back like this!' Plonk! sinkers slice the water, piercing the darkness, seeking their prey. Waiting, waiting, rocking, water lapping, lapping, toes tapping. Lines run wild, "A bite, a bite!' 'reel it in, reel it in!' Proud times to bring the dinner home, No paper wrapper here, no oil from the chip shop sogging the spoil. cooked on a camp oven, smelling of smoke, tasting of river, salt, and pepper, Eaten with buttered bread, coals sparking and dancing, singing and prancing. Washed down in a bowl, tucked into bed, camp light hums and bugs come running, A story told, teeth cleaned and gleamed. sweet sleep to noises new. Ah! a place of peace I've found, oft to be visited, always around, Mine for the taking, safe in memory ground.