homeplace

I came upon a house today
  though most of it had gone away
  and left behind its mossy bones
  of listing piers and cracked hearthstones

So I took a pause for pondering
   in midst of random woodland wandering
   to think of those who once lived there
  where none go now but deer and hare

My gaze took in a lonesome hollow
  and found that it was drawn to follow
  up the course of a small spring
  that issued forth from a stone ring

I saw then that their source of drink
  came from that spring
  not some wells brink
  they hauled water to wash and drink

there stood an oak still giving shade
  to this home's space as when a glade
  surrounded it instead of woods
  and quail would raise thier tiny broods

did once childrens laughter ring
  as they swayed on a long rope swing
  that hung from this tree's lower limb ?
  I wondered what became of them

perhaps their father trudged at night
  from working fields toward cheery light
  where loving wife prepared a meal
  to help assauge his hungry feel

but evening came, I had to go
  or my own love would worry so
  I set my feet to homeward take me
  for now my joints and muscles ached me

I had,then,no more time to wonder
  about deserted homeplace yonder