There is a lake in the forest 
Where a Canoe once floated 
Carrying a father and his children.

There is a lake somewhere 
that is clear and cool and green 
in the sun.

It gave us pleasure 
It gave us food 
It gave us itself

There is a lake somewhere 
where lovers swam 
and touched 
and children swam 
and played.

The lake is a part of us 
for we are people of nature. 
That lake, to others, 
is now a body of water, 
surrounded by land. 
To us, a special memory 
of being one, together 
a people of nature.

The Canoe still glides 
The swimmer still swims 
and each look to the other 
but only in a memory.

There is another lake 
beside a town 
where a father takes his children 
They use a canoe and they touch the water. 
The swimmer is not there 
And when they go home, they wash their hands.
 

© 1992, Lark Ritchie. All rights reserved.