This poem is based off of the South. It describes the many things that you can find there, focusing on the nature and beauty of it all.
Oh, What I Remember
I remember the fire crackling on a cool summer night,
The way the air filled with the sweet smell of smoke.
I remember the spray of salt on a windy beach,
My constant longing to jump in the crashing waves.
I remember the smiles born at the first sight of snow,
The panic made as an inch closed every town.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the waves of gold grown on a plantation of rich soil,
The bare fields speckled with weeds in early March.
I remember the church homecomings as the wind grew bitter,
The homemade feasts with apple pies laid out for all.
I remember the stuffy days filled with nagging mosquitos,
The panic felt as we struggled to get them off our raw skin.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the rows of graves for the soldiers of years past,
The sorrow I constantly felt for all those enslaved.
I remember the Saturday night cookouts that carried into Sunday,
The backyards filled with the sweet smell of barbecue.
I remember the accents that so well accompanied our manners,
The many "Hey y'all"s and "Yes ma'am"s.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the countless pitchers filled with sweet iced tea,
Our family's constant debate between this and fresh lemonade.
I remember the Spanish moss swaying in the breeze,
My aggravation as I struggle to untangle it from my long hair.
I remember the summers spent in the brackish rivers,
The old rope swing we built when we could swim no more.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the old magnolia tree that I climbed in our yard,
The scars that I bear from branches breaking under my feet as I neared the top.
I remember the countless country songs we never stopped singing,
The tunes and the lyrics that I will never forget.
I remember the "bubby roses" with their sweet perfume,
Bringing bees and butterflies everywhere they grew.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the terrible news of a hurricane coming,
The homes it destroyed and forests washed out.
I remember my small Baptist church,
Where everyone in it claimed they were family.
I remember many things about my southern home,
Memories made to shape my life and never be forgotten.
Oh, what I remember.
Oh, What I Remember
I remember the fire crackling on a cool summer night,
The way the air filled with the sweet smell of smoke.
I remember the spray of salt on a windy beach,
My constant longing to jump in the crashing waves.
I remember the smiles born at the first sight of snow,
The panic made as an inch closed every town.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the waves of gold grown on a plantation of rich soil,
The bare fields speckled with weeds in early March.
I remember the church homecomings as the wind grew bitter,
The homemade feasts with apple pies laid out for all.
I remember the stuffy days filled with nagging mosquitos,
The panic felt as we struggled to get them off our raw skin.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the rows of graves for the soldiers of years past,
The sorrow I constantly felt for all those enslaved.
I remember the Saturday night cookouts that carried into Sunday,
The backyards filled with the sweet smell of barbecue.
I remember the accents that so well accompanied our manners,
The many "Hey y'all"s and "Yes ma'am"s.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the countless pitchers filled with sweet iced tea,
Our family's constant debate between this and fresh lemonade.
I remember the Spanish moss swaying in the breeze,
My aggravation as I struggle to untangle it from my long hair.
I remember the summers spent in the brackish rivers,
The old rope swing we built when we could swim no more.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the old magnolia tree that I climbed in our yard,
The scars that I bear from branches breaking under my feet as I neared the top.
I remember the countless country songs we never stopped singing,
The tunes and the lyrics that I will never forget.
I remember the "bubby roses" with their sweet perfume,
Bringing bees and butterflies everywhere they grew.
Oh, what I remember.
I remember the terrible news of a hurricane coming,
The homes it destroyed and forests washed out.
I remember my small Baptist church,
Where everyone in it claimed they were family.
I remember many things about my southern home,
Memories made to shape my life and never be forgotten.
Oh, what I remember.
