Do-Over: Re-Living the Playground (aka – Re-Living the Playground with Granddaughter – aka – Re-Living the Playground Anew – aka – Living the Playground Anew)

Posted on May 27, 2010 by grandawn

The swing looks so inviting
To fly – to fly – up high. . .
“Push harder, grandawn.  Watch me now
Reach up and touch the sky.”
 
The merry-go-round looks easy
Around and round and round.
“I’ll run fast, grandawn.  Keep a hold
While I jump from the ground.”
 
The slide – simple and friendly.
The steps look kinda steep.
 “Come on, grandawn.”  Her fervor is
Contagious – makes me leap.
 
The monkey bars – you’re kidding!
These hands won’t hold the weight.
“You’re too short to reach up, grandawn.
I’ll cross it fast and straight.”
 
“That shade tree looks good, grandawn.
We need to take a rest.
A drink and then a picnic lunch –
Won’t that just be the best?”
 
Ahhhhh. . .
 
–Dawn Cawthon Behrens
 

About grandawn

I live in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. I have three wonderful grandchildren. I am a teacher, writer, actor, singer. . . and whatever else I can manage.
This entry was posted in Aging & Changing, Poems and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

12 Responses to Do-Over: Re-Living the Playground (aka – Re-Living the Playground with Granddaughter – aka – Re-Living the Playground Anew – aka – Living the Playground Anew)

  1. Tokeloshe says:
    May 28, 2010 at 7:16 pm

    I love it!

    Ouma (Grandmother in Afrikaans)

    Reply
  2. knittingmaestro says:
    May 27, 2010 at 8:37 pm

    “Living the Playground Anew” is more fitting for the granddaughter experience. Granddaughter is in the ‘now’ while you’re reliving it.

    Great writing that helps us relive it in completely different ways……Wonderful!

    Reply
  3. Lyndatjie says:
    May 27, 2010 at 11:55 am

    I love the way you changed the experience from a bitter-sweet one for yourself to a heart-warming one with your grand kids. Simply stunning!

    Reply
    • grandawn says:
      May 27, 2010 at 1:23 pm

      Thanks, Lyndatjie! It’s amazing how different the same experience can be once grandchildren get involved. Although, I guess that once the grandchildren get involved, it isn’t really the same experience. 🙂

      Now, help me think of a new title (at least for the second one) that makes the point clear without me having to explain. Maybe: “Re-Living the Playground” and “Re-Living the Playground – Anew”? (the question mark isn’t part of the title, btw)

      Reply
  4. slpmartin says:
    May 27, 2010 at 9:53 am

    Would have to agree with Cindy…both poems can both stand alone quite well.

    Reply
  5. theonlycin says:
    May 27, 2010 at 6:11 am

    I like what you’ve done, but I still like the original too. I think they can both stand alone quite well and this one needn’t be seen as a ‘redo’.

    Reply
    • grandawn says:
      May 27, 2010 at 6:22 am

      Supposed to be a do-over of the experience (now with granddaughter), not the poem. Obviously, that didn’t come across if I have to explain it. 🙂

      Suggestion for title change to make that clear? Maybe: “Re-Living the Playground Alone” and “Re-Living the Playground with Granddaughter”?

      Reply

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