Remember when everyone had porches on the front of their house? Remember how you could ride anywhere in a car and pass by and see folks sitting on their porch and everyone would wave at those passing by. When company would come we would actually sit on the porch to eat our meals and play music and sing. Kids played on and under the porches. There were swings sometimes on the porch and when your date walked you home you would invite them to stay on the porch and visit a while in the swing. It was tradition and still is in the south for folks to decorate their porches according to the season. From your front porch others can tell how hospitable you are to guests! You could walk right up to your neighbor's front porch and the their screen door would be open.  So grab a rocker and sit on the front porch awhile and visit!

 Memories sweep across my mind
I hear sweet mamma call
come home come home it's suppertime
hurry up ...come on you'all
on the front porch she'd be waiting
leaning over the wooden rail
with cool well water and a cup
in a small tin drinking pail




I still can see me as a child
playing for endless hours
chasing some pretty butterflies
and gathering fresh wild flowers
mamma would sing a hymn or two
as she washed and hung white sheets
me in a pretty checkered dress
with hot tired dirty feet
In the evening on that country porch
we'd go out on that swing
mamma would play her dulcimer
and daddy would clap and sing
what lovely tunes rang out at night
and echoed through those hills
just thinking of the harmony
still gives my body chills




Years have come and gone it seems
yet that front porch stands today
I stood there on the wooden steps
and watched a young girl play
she gathered pretty flowers
and placed her hand in mine
memories seem to have a way
of catching up with time


Poetry by Kassanna
kassanna's Poetic Dreams
(Deborah M. Carter)
copyright:2001