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	WHO TIED THE RIBBON (around my oak tree) 1987 Back to the country, where I lived as a child, I went to visit and walk for a while. I saw the oak tree where I used to swing. Then I saw a strange looking thing. There tied around it, so faded and old, Was a ribbon that once was yellow gold. Who tied the ribbon around my oak tree? How long ago and was it meant for me? I sat down beneath it to rest for a while. Things I remembered to my face brought a smile. I remembered the man who used to visit me. I wondered could it really be he, Who tied the ribbon around my oak tree. Much time has passed since that day. Yes, many years are gone and he's passed away. And here I am so faded and old, Just like the ribbon that once was yellow gold. Who tied the ribbon around my oak tree? How long ago and was it meant for me? Tell me who tied the ribbon around my oak tree? How long ago and was it meant for me?
That Old Oak Tree 11-20-98 That Old Oak Tree was standing there beside the road. And the rope that used to be a swing, had held its, last load. It hung so limp and twisted, swaying in the wind. It could never be used for a swing ever again. The Old Oak Tree grew larger as the years went by. Sometimes its, memories bring tears to my eye. Just knowing that I can never swing from its, limbs anymore. I can't take times back like they were before. As that Old Oak Tree stood there while cars passed by. No one seemed to care if it should live or die. And the old rope hanging and twisted from a big limb on the west side. Seemed to curl up tighter as if it had something to hide. That Old Oak Tree kept growing and with age it stood. I may be the only one who remembers its, good. For though it was precious, so precious to me. A support for that rope swing, no more can it ever be. That Old Oak Tree stopped standing beside that road one day. Though it gave memories that can never be taken away. It lay there along the ground with its, limbs broken where it fell. And that, the rope once was a swing, no one could tell. Oh, that Old Oak Tree is gone never to be seen again, Hauled off on a truck driven by a working man. For he took an ax and that old tree he did hew. Now only a stump stands, where that Old Oak Tree used to.

 

Scrouge Out Living 11-28-98 Most people will never understand what it was all about, To grow up in the community of Scrouge Out., But the families who lived there in those years of the 30's, 40's, 50's and beyond, Raised children, by the sweat of their brows, to grow up and be gone. With no electricity, the water was drawn from a well out in the yard, And the food was cooked on a wood burning stove. Life was hard. Ice was delivered by a truck from a nearby town. I was told to keep the ice box closed to keep the ice from melting down. A metal wood burning heater stood in the front room with wood piled behind. The job of bringing the wood inside to have it ready, was usually mine. Daddy and the boys cut wood from trees in the pasture where plenty grew. They would cut it up and haul it into the yard, too. The Axums, Cokers, Parkers, Macks, and Kisers too, worked hard with farming to do. The Huntsburgers and Evans stayed for a while as if just passing through. Others would come, stay a short time, then they would leave. Getting out of Scrouge Out, no one seemed to grieve. There was a store at the beginning of Scrouge Out up by the highway. One road going past forked on down about a mile I'd say. One direction of the fork went to Trinity River while the other would lead you back out. There was a road that connected the two and to take that you could circle about. There are times when happy memories just up and return. Even though there was not much to please, we had to learn. Memories of the good ole Scrouge Out folk all about. And so it went until age made most of us move out.

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