I saw you from the back porch
where I sat in my rocking chair,
you on the beach beside the lake
taking your time,
lining up toys.
The line was long
and you were strong
for such a little boy,
barefoot and tan,
footprints dimpling the sand,
placing a dump truck here, just so,
setting a sandy horseshoe beside it,
turning shovel and pail upside down.
Who knows where this line will go?
I suspect even you don’t know,
running here and there,
gracing the beach with each toy,
each rock,
each block of wood
tossed aside by the teenager who cut the lawn.
The wood is of no use to him,
but to you it’s a treasure.
I saw it all from where I sat
in the rocking chair on the back porch
years ago.
That moment made footprints
in the sand of my memory.
It is of no use to you,
but to me, it’s a treasure.
-kh-
Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.
Nature of the week:
Shadow of the week:
If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.
Text and photos © Karyn Henley 2026. All rights reserved.
