a joy rediscovered

oh why did i ever stop climbing trees?

i hung from branches by my knees

i clambered up wisteria vines fearlessly

and never gave a second thought

to whether they would hold me or not

the trees i climbed, i knew them well

the oak, magnolia, pecan, elm

i knew how best to scale each one -

just where to place my feet and hands,

and which of them had room for friends

i can't remember why i quit

or which tree i climbed last

but now that i've come to think of it

who says my climbing days have passed?