I felt a heated sun soaking my
chlorine skin as Tropicana lotion
mixed with the aroma of
sweet candy taffy.
At Wallace Park pool-
This is where my love for music
and words became a part of my soul-
later to become an unknown writer of poetry;
When my friends laughed as water splashed
I heard Chicago and Queen, as a very hairy
life guard was hitting on all the girls in bikini's.
I started to mix words with thoughts
and I kept them to myself until I grew
older- now its time to express to the world
that when you thought I was daydreaming;
I was writing another poem in my head.
Wallace Park held memories for me
and all of my friends that made me laugh.
I found love for the first time as well-
but not many know about that- even the
guy with the kite.
I never told Christy and April
how much I loved them, how they
saved me time and time again- or Krystal
thank you for listening to my made up songs
on the swing set.
Those became unwritten poems.
Thank you to Bean and the mighty mo-ped
circling the winding roads of the parks,
ball parks, fairs and lots of late night talks
under a dark night moon that always listened.
It amazes me, at almost age 50
I hear a song, as a simple drive
to the grocery store- on a Saturday night
in New York- takes me back to Wallace Park, Ks
and the year 1979.
******************************
For Christy, April, Krystal, Sabrina, Stacey and Debbie
