DAYS GONE BY

I SAT BY THE BROOK IN A VINE COVERED BOWER
THERE IN THE ORCHARD READING BOOKS BY THE HOUR.
AND HOW PLEASANT THE SOUNDS THAT I HEARD,
THE BEES IN THE BLOSSOMS, THE SWEET CALL OF A BIRD.

VIVID IS THE HOME WHERE I USED TO DWELL,
A BUCKET OF COLD WATER DRAWN FROM THE WELL.
WE LIGHTED OUR LAMPS WITH SMOKEY KEROSENE,
USED GOOD OLD LYE SOAP TO SCRUB CLOTHES CLEAN.

AS I SIT HERE TODAY 'NEATH THIS OLD APPLE TREE
ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS AND SWEET MEMORY,
HOW GOOD IT WOULD BE TO GO BACK AGAIN
AND DO ALL THE THINGS I DID WAY BACK THEN.

(The Old Hillbilly)