The Old Picket Fence
by George Albert Leddy
“Tear down the Old Picket Fence,” you say.
Well, no - I guess I’ll let it stay.
I’ll patch it up and paint it white;
I guess I’ll make it look alright.
You see, that old fence means to me
A whole lot more than you can see.
It speaks to me of things I knew
When fields were green, and skies were blue.
It speaks to me of long ago,
And yet it seems, but yesterday.
Just Ma, and me, and Little Joe;
Our Little Joe just turning three.
He had to have a place to play
Where he’d be safe, and wouldn’t stray.
And so, I built that fence for him,
A sort’o place to keep him in.
And in the Spring a tiny shoot
Peeped from the earth to seek the sun.
It seemed to know the Picket Fence
Would make a place for vines to run.
And o’er that fence, so white and clean,
It spread a wealth of verdant green.
It seemed to know it held a grace
To help to beautify the place.
And very soon, in brilliant hue;
Violet, and rose, and pink, and blue;
As if to meet the coming day,
The Morning Glories held full-sway.
And as the warm June days drew nigh,
A tiny rosebud caught my eye;
And soon the Roses, rich and rare,
Sent their sweet fragrance on the air.
Then later came our Little Sue,
Then Mary Jane, then Little Bill;
Then Little Ruth, who couldn’t stay.
She sleeps out-yonder on the hill.
We used to gather there each eve,
We felt she’d like to have us near;
But Mother’s sleeping with her now.
I’ve been alone for nigh a year.
I see it now, that fence so white;
The Morning Glories all abloom;
The babes we loved a-playing there;
The Roses in the month of June;
And Mother waiting by the gate,
To greet me at the close of day,
To tell me all the pretty things
That she had heard the babies say.
Ah, yes, I see it all again -
The yard is strewn with baby toys;
The swing beneath the Maple tree;
The dolls for girls, the carts for boys;
The happy children there at play.
The children now, all gone away.
Ah yes, I guess that we must be
Content with life’s sweet memories.
I know we’re getting pretty old;
That fence and me, we’ve had our day;
So just a little loving care
To keep us happy while we stay.
I’ll patch it up, and paint it white;
I guess I’ll make it look alright.
***