Small Town Life

 

 

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When I was a young boy between the ages of 6 and 10,
I lived in Phillips that was a very small town then.
In the summer, we traveled to Sulphur Springs to play,
Which was even smaller than Phillips in those days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Small Town Life

 

 

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I recall on my first day of school I walked all the way,
With my sister, JerrylDine age 8, leading me that day.
She took me to my class and then went on to hers,
And waited for me after school with her little purse.

JerrylDine will you come by and get me after school?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Living in a small down with virtually no crime there about,
Gave parents a sense we were safe when we were out.
So they allowed us to go on long trips down in the canyons,
Around Phillips if we told them when , where, and companions.

The red clay canyons around Phillips with large limestone rocks and mesquite bushes where we roamed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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So with this freedom we walked all over the red hills there,
To elephant rock, the corn grinders, then on to Dixon Creek.
Where we took off our shoes and rolled up our pants,
Wading the creek catching frogs and minnows by chance.

Dixon Creek near Phillips that we waded in every time we got near it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Then heading on back home with my dogs at our side,
Walking across pipelines over the small streams not wide,
Feeling so free out there with all my buddies on our own,
With no sign of an electronic game or an Apple iPhone.

Both my dogs walked right behind me on those pipelines as we walked them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I just loved roaming those canyons all around that town,
Feeling like a young pioneer just exploring all around.
Discovering the bugs, wild life, and creatures as I roved,
With one of my favorite creatures being the Horny Toad.

Cute little booger isn’t he?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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At Sulphur Springs, we walked everywhere by ourselves,
Swimming in the lake by the park like little small elves,
And fishing in Butler Creek when we got in the mood,
Even hunting squirrels in the woods with local dudes.

JerrylDine and I on the back porch of grandmother Low’s house after a trip to Butler Creek with our cane poles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We sometimes took trips that lasted half of a day,
Alone with other kids that were about our same age,
Way out to the Big Springs area to swim and too play,
And sometimes way up the hill to collect fossils some days.

That road we walked to Big Springs all the way from Sulphur Springs with our young friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I think we had a lot of degrees of freedom back then,
That the kids of todays world will never ever see again,
As the technology keeps the kids entertained at home,
Keeping them inside more, so they don’t often just roam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The world in bigger cities will likely never be as secure,
Parents may never feel safe with kids on unescorted tours,
Or even walking alone to their own local nearby schools,
As the world is not as safe and technology now rules.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Even today at the age of 75, I still love the great outdoors.
Perhaps because of those early days that l lived before.
I shall be forever grateful I was raised in a small town,
With the great outdoors to take away all of my frowns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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By Bill,

 

 

 

 

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Thanks for reading Small Town Life,
Bill