I remember a warm home in Lansing
That was painted yellow with white trim.
With dark bushes about it to hide in
And a short cut path to Walnut School beside it.

Oh it’s all gone now, alas!
Nothing at all remains.
Nothing to be seen of the past
Or the direction from which I came.

I remember the red haired hellion
With the name of Cameron McClean,
And throwing mud balls at cop cars
Hiding under the bushes, but found , just the same.

Oh it’s all gone now, alas!
Nothing at all remains.
Nothing to be seen of the past
Or the direction from which I came.



And a red dog named Ranger…a plum tree,
And ,in season, juicy grapes!
A sugar beet factory, and a field full of mice.
A pit by the Reo railroad tracks, that held snakes.

Oh it’s all gone now, alas!
Nothing at all remains.
Nothing to be seen of the past
Or the direction from which I came.

at night, flames dance behind the eyes of owl andirons
while the Lone Ranger on the radio at seven.
The funny papers read by “Uncle Bob” on Sunday…..
And family: Mother, Daddy, Sister and Tiger.

Oh it’s all gone now, alas!
Nothing at all remains.
Nothing to be seen of the past
Or the direction from which I came.

But…maybe Cam is still alive?
Lost to me in a vast sea of people.
This poem could be a message in a bottle…
Come Cam, and we will
Once again , throw mud balls at cop cars.