Douglas Community

There is sadness now in Douglas When you stop and look around, And see the missing farm homes Now turned back to farming ground.

There were Francis, Youngs and Allens Cox and Gregg to name a few, Gholsons, Thornes and Poppins Tuckers, Gaines and Barlows too.

Their homes torn down, the wells all filled, Their fence and timber gone, Now strangers on a tractor Plow on through a neighbors lawn.

You'll remember threshing dinners Butchering days with feast and fun, The hunting trips and weiner roast When the Autumn work was done.

Like a visit to a grave-site You'll probe through the past in vain, You'll realize its hopeless And you'll feel a twinge of pain.

For like shadows after sunset They're all gone without a trace. Lifetimes of dreams and labors Time found easy to erase.

John L. Gwaltney

North Fork

It's really great to be alive To go fishing in the spring, When woodland flowers are waking up And the birds are back to sing.

To walk the mile back to the creek With a warm sun in your face And climb the banks of old North Fork in the old familiar place.

The same old path my father knew When I tagged along with him; The same steep bank, the same clear pool Where he taught me how to swim.

Now years have passed I walk up front My father now is gone; But right behind me on the path My son will carry on.

I know that others rather fish In a far more modern way, With boats and all the fishing gear That's being sold today.

But let me have my old cane poles, Just let me fish and think and often times I'll make believe Dad's with me on the bank.

John L Gwaltney