The Swing

It sat amid the grass and weeds
Sad and alone as it must needs
Waiting for the children to return
Patient; yet forlorn!
Much loved and played upon in its heyday
It was moved from home to home
Carried its occupants to fantasy worlds
Loved and used; squeaked and oiled anon
Always and ever for lots of fun!
It came to the Thiel family in 1974
Just before Ben's birth
Joanna and Rebecca played and climbed 
Swung upon its wooden seats
Rocking back and forth
East and West; South and North
Enjoying its swinging; for all its worth!
It moved to Yundi when Amos was just two
Was climbed all over; saw laughter and tears
Nursed Rebecca's broken collarbone
When she was just six years old and 
Mum Celia tried to swallow her fears
As she and dad Peter watched them all at play!
It was left behind in 1983 ; maybe 1984
For Lizy and Matthias had Kaylene and Krystle then
Grandma and Grandpa Theil  lived right next door!
A few years later it was moved to Sedan 
To live with the Andersson family
Loved by Vanessa and Shelley!
I heard its regular squeakings
As my two girls played there
And a few years later on
Michael's screams as well!

It sat quietly in the dust and wind
For over ten long years
Then Ben came back; recognized its frame
The memories of his childhood
Refreshed after all of these years!

Now Ben's daughter Heidi loves this swing too!
Her eyes wide as saucers
As she kept watch out that rear window
At that trailer carried her new swing home
It was going to be loved again!
Emmett is just a baby now
But soon you'll hear his joy
As he swings with his big sister Heidi
Ben and Naomi's little girl and boy!