A MINIATURE MIGHTY MUMFORD

A miniature Mumford River,

A glorified stream a-quiver…

Is not as broad

As I had allowed,

As a rushing white water sliver!

–

Behind the excursion train’s shops,

From a mill pond in back, the stream drops…

Riverbed’s at an angle

Making canoes  tangle,

With a portage that the Corridor adopts.

–

The stone railroad shops overhang

The riverbed, and claim…

Nearly half

Of the Mumford’s path,

Where a culvert and retaining wall sprang.

–

Can you see it–blue extruded foam–

Layered so the Mumford can roam…

In its flood plain

As it was deigned

To do so….past our home!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

A RAINY NIGHT IN DOUGLAS

A RAINY NIGHT IN DOUGLAS**

(Massachusetts)

A rainy night in Douglas

Mist coming off the snow,

See the off-white piles shrinking

Till the whole lot will go…

It’s spotting up the windows

With ev’ry direction change,

Unfrozen ground will turn to mud

As it does every age!

–

OH…the aquifer is filling

From all this winter snow,

All the private wells are thrilling

‘Cause this summer won’t be low…

I think the mighty Mumford

Might just overflow its banks,

For the rain and snow this winter

We ought to offer thanks!

–Jonathan Caswell

** By the way…try singing this, to “THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS”!!!

DOUGLAS AT NIGHT

DOUGLAS AT NIGHT

I walked through Douglas last night,

A darkened stroll in varied light…

Beheld those dam lights*

To guide goose flights,

The swans were beyond my sight.

–

Walking alone in the dark,

My work bag got heavier as I walked…

Its shoulder strap

Gratefully intact,

On alternating shoulders it parked.

–

Was grateful for passing cars,

I could see down the road far…

To avoid branches snapped

Or by a vine wrapped,

Waking on cement or tar.

–

The Mumford gurgled peacefully,

As the lights of town I see…

Over a stone bridge

Paced slackened a smidge,

It was a long walk for me!

–

The grade up twisting North Street,

Reminded of my old Health Aide beat…

Hayward Landing, I was sure,

Was just as secure:

Living there would have been a treat.

–

Passed an darkened police cruiser where

I quietly passed who was there…

And went on my way

Without delay,

Enjoying warm night air.

–

Couldn’t see lights of home through the trees,

‘Til I rounded the corner and eased…

Onto the driveway

Where I started my day,

I hoped my shop’s bill wouldn’t quease!

–Jonathan Caswell

*See my poem, LANDING LIGHTS????, posted July 2, 2013.

MUMFORD RIVER HEADER

MUMFORD RIVER HEADER

 

This Mumford River header

On a sunny autumn day,

Was taken at Capron Falls

In Uxbridge, that-a-way…

I don’t think it’s original to me

But on Google it was found,

I’m glad I live upstream from here

On slightly higher ground!

 

–Jonathan Caswell

 

October Country

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