The Village Green

I took a walk today in the village
Where I live is a township
But the village begins at our next-door neighbors
House so the village is steps away

I walked quickly, glad to be out
Away from the house, the electronics
The unceasing chatter of life
The upslope of the street before me

I strode over the old bridge
And crossed at the intersection
Passing the large, old houses
That had stood there for generations

I turned up an alleyway
It possessed enough width for one car
And one thin pedestrian
At the same time

I backed up for the minivan
Stood between two shrubs
Where the coffeeshop's property ends
On cushiony green grass

I headed to the post office and
The local church---my church
Crossed over to ancient tracks
Where the train once ran

I walked on the tracks, childlike
Trying to step on the ties
Each step until my usual
Turn around place confronted me

I went on, the Summer day beckoned me
Followed more tracks until
I reached the top
Of a steep hill

I started down slowly
Felt the pavement beneath me
An utterly unwanted surface
Pitching me downward

To my left lay the grassy
Soft, inviting village green.
I paused, then gave in to
The appeal of verdant peace.

My feet were happier
I wanted to run, to dance
And spin in circles, delighting
In the sweet sponginess

I walked across, looking
At the bandstand lights
For Friday night concerts
Another bit of Summer here

The green ended near
The old Granary building
Inside used for craft fairs
Outside for farmers market.

From there it was fine gravel
Not so good as grass
But still kinder to my feet
As I walked ever more slowly

Tarmac now, but a kinder hill
Back by the post office
Than the monster slope I left
To daydream for awhile

I thought of times past
When trains were ridden
By this way, no cars
A working granary

Generation filled houses
In front of narrow sidewalks
Made of concrete slabs
Cracked by huge tree roots

The spring-fed creek
Full of ducks and trout
Runs joyfully behind our homes
Offering no pavement