Sometimes the simplest words are best in Daydreaming on the Porch

"Give me a road away from the crowd, Away from the noise and the race, And let me wander the quiet trail To a different time and place,

Where miles are measured in valleys, And birches point the way, To somewhere we miss so dearly -- We call it yesterday.

All cares are soon forgotten On the path of no intent; The beauty of the countryside Is surely Heaven sent

And when this journey's over The memories shall remain Of daydream trips into the past And down a country lane."

C. David Hay

I came across this poem several months ago and instantly was drawn to its beauty and simplicity. To me a poem that speaks directly to the heart and soul is worth treasuring more than one filled with symbols and allegories and obtuse language that seems to be the province of a select few readers. There is certainly a place for poetry with great intellectual depth and meaning. I should know. As an English major in college decades ago, I studied by fair share of them. But in the years since, I have gravitated toward poems that speak more directly and which convey the beauty and peace of Nature and the countryside in words I don't have to labor to understand.

This poem strikes exactly the right notes for me. I do tend to idealize the good times of the past and call forth memories of youth more frequently now that I am older and look back on my life more often. I know I must be careful not to dwell on the past, good and bad, too much. But memories are who I am. And some of my fondest and most cherished memories are of walks in the woods or along my favorite paths at Magnolia Gardens.