Letter To My Backyard

Dear Backyard,

Happy 28th Birthday!

Thank you for all you hold,

the bur oak,

towering over half your green lawn,

squirrels at feeders,

birds perching and waiting their turn.

_________________________________________

I see before me

the rail fence my husband built,

now covered in a vine of purple morning glories,

piles of limestone rocks awaiting a project,

a hummingbird visiting the blooming red Turk’s cap,

and little green lizards in a mating embrace.

__________________________________________________

Thank you for all I see in my mind’s eye:

a swing set and a sandbox,

a sweating teenage son digging the hole,

where the pecan tree will go,

another, younger son pulling baby sister through the grass in a red flyer wagon,

past the cactus garden, and around again.

__________________________________________________

Grandma, blindfolded, swinging a bat at a star shaped birthday pinata,

the laughter of friends chugging beers and

dodging smoke from the grill,

while lights fly from 4th of July sparklers

in the hands of kids, arms stretched to the limit.

And generations of dogs running in the grass.

_____________________________________________________

Thank you for giving me retreat

under January’s cold stars,

long ago,

after a spousal tiff,

with only you and the cat on my lap as a witness,

as I dried my tears and cooled down.

______________________________________________________

You are our creation,

full of colorful plantings, love, memories.

And we are your creation.

Thank you for all you hold and

thank you for giving us space to grow.

With Gratitude, Betty

Dove On Hand Built Cedar Rail Fence And Blooming Turk’s Caps

Dove And Morning Glory

(photos by B. McCreary)

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bettymccreary7347

Born and raised in Central Texas. Spending time outside brings me joy and I love to share my observations. I also belong to two writing groups and enjoy researching my ancestors. I find people interesting, but Nature keeps me sane.

11 thoughts on “Letter To My Backyard”

  2. Thank you Betty from one backyard lover to another. The details you include, both joyous and poignant, enrich your description and make it personal and heart-felt. It “got” to me so thank you for that.

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  3. Betty, I have always enjoyed looking out the windows at your back yard, but now your memories have made it come even more alive to me. “To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul.” Simone Weil abrazos, Marcia

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  6. This is a lovely “Thank you” to your backyard and all of the memories it holds now closely in your heart.

    I’ve not had one single backyard, especially when the boys were young but this reminds me that I can find the memories of many backyards over the years that I now hold in still photos and in my own heart. Memories and gardening, every yard since I was 20, even if a rental house or my 5th Wheel for two years on land in the country.

    Thank you Betty, so much!

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