I know every guy reading this–well almost every guy–was once this 6-9 year-old boy overlooking the world from the high diving board at the town pool. I can promise you, I did not write this poem using second-hand information. I have to tell you, too, reading this poem almost cools me off. It is hot out there! Fall is in the air though, so I’ll submit this to Poetry Palace’s Poet’s Rally #51 today, and hopefully put a fitting cap on this long hot summer! Enjoy!
Cannonball
The girls all scream and curse me
The boys threaten bodily harm
Soaked one and all from my cannonball
I toss them some toothless charm
Six years of age and afraid of nothing
I scramble up the high ladder again
Stand on the board overlooking the world
Drying fast in a hot summer wind
A glorious day I’m thinking
Looking down at the sparkling pool
In the shallow end, little brothers
Horsing ‘round and acting the fool
Ah, but the audience below me
Jealous disdain in their eyes
Shouting and calling me names
Tis my bravery they truly despise
Without warning I leap from the board
As one they gasp at my daring
I fly through the air, grinning wide
No teeth in the front, but not caring
I hit the water with a solid kerplunk
Knees hugged up tight to my chin
When I break water to a chorus of insults
I know I’ve soaked them all again
Copyright © 1998 C. Mashburn
Raivenne said
Oh Charles! How completely endearing, cherubic and yet watching to snatch you by your scruffy little neck!!! 😀 I love this!
http://wp.me/pPury-jT
charlesmashburn said
Hahaha! What a fun comment!
Glad you enjoyed it, and glad you stopped by!
Cassiopeia Rises said
Very good. It made me smile….
Melanie
charlesmashburn said
I was hoping it would!
Thanks for stopping by!
Kellie Elmore said
Love it, Charles! Reminded me of my brother! Great humor and perfect scene painting!
charlesmashburn said
Awesome! I bet he can relate!
Thanks, Kellie!
California Ink in Motion said
Oh- the memories of past summers in Southern California when the temp. would draw many a cannon balls from the pools. Fun poem Charles. Thanks for leaving the link to the fast moving, flowing poem.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the great comments!
Sherry Mashburn said
Definitely a guy thing!
charlesmashburn said
SPUH-LASH!
blitzken said
Haha, that’s great fun! Breaking water sounds about as popular as breaking wind. 😉
charlesmashburn said
Not quite, but close!
Thanks for the visit, Kenny!
The Orange Tree said
toss them some toothless charm,
love the line, your words are so very divine.
charlesmashburn said
That’s one of my favorite lines, too.
Thanks for the visit and comments!
Mihir Vatsa said
Sometimes, deep and heavy poetry fail to convey the simplest nuances of life; the poem is really nice, and simple. A good read, all in all.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you. I appreciate your comments!
Larry Meredith said
Ah, this capture the essence of childhood devilishly.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Larry! I appreciate the comment!
terri0729 said
Oh Charles, too cute! I was that daring once and did a belly smacker that knocked the wind out of me and I sank like a rock to the bottom of the pool. I recovered just as the lifeguard was preparing to dive in after me, lol. I came up red faced and sulked back to my beach towel. Guess that was the end of the highboard for me. Loved it. Blessings, Terri
charlesmashburn said
Hey, Don’t beat yourself up. We all did some belly flops. I can just see you though. Too funny!
Thanks for stopping by. Always appreciate and enjoy your comments!
kez said
cool and yes it did make me laugh ! oh to be 6 again, carefree days ! Thank you and once again for your kind comments
charlesmashburn said
Awesome! Love to make ya laugh!
Your welcome, and thank you!
Elyas Mulu Kiros said
I like it, Charles! 🙂 Awesome rhyming!
charlesmashburn said
Thanks! I appreciate the visit and comments, Elyas!
ticklyturtle said
Haha. I love this! I saw the child going at it, looking very happy. ^_^
charlesmashburn said
Thanks! Glad you got a laugh out of it!
I appreciate the comments!
Daydreamertoo said
What a brave and naughty, daring little boy. LOL
What a fun read, too.
charlesmashburn said
Oh, he was a rascal, that one!
Thanks for the visit and great comments!
Miss Kitten said
Fantastic! I love how you set the whole scene, the sights, smells, sounds, everything.
Somehow I’m not surprised to learn that you were a cannonball kid.
Here’s my selection for this week:
http://randommisanthrope.com/2011/09/06/les-jeans-bleu/
charlesmashburn said
Well! I don’t know what to make of that comment! I think I’ll let the 6 year-old kid that still lives in my brain field it. (He gives you a toothless grin and a fist in the air!)
Loved your poem!
Thanks for the visit! Always get a kick out of your comments!
Inside the Mind of Isadora said
Definitely, a boy thing … high energy – daring and carefree.
Fun poem…
Isadora
charlesmashburn said
Yep! Boy thing, for sure!
Thanks for the great comments!
Life: Between the lines said
oooo! this brought back some nice childhood memories 🙂 thanks for taking me back!
charlesmashburn said
You’re so welcome! Thank you fro the wonerful comment!
thingy said
Aaw, I love this. Thanks for the smile. : )
charlesmashburn said
Love to make folks smile!
Thanks for the visit and nice comment!
Jack Edwards said
Stunningly vivid. Brilliant!
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Jack! I really appreciate the great comments!
Morning said
authentic talent shown here, thanks for sharing.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you! What a tremendous compliment. Very much appreciated!
fiveloaf said
like an angel plunging into the water throning the rest! thanks for your visit pal..
charlesmashburn said
Ha! Thanks, five!
Shawn Bird said
heh heh. I know that kid.
Thanks for visiting http://www.shawnbird.com/the-thing I appreciate that you took the time to come by!
charlesmashburn said
I think everybody knows that kid, Shawn. He’s been to every town pool there is!
You are welcome, and thank you!
jpdaily said
Great! a moment of childhood fun captured and painted by words. Nicely done.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, JP. I appreciate your reading and commenting on this!
Abby Kelly said
I absolutely LOVE this! I’ve tweeted it!
http://www.benjity.wordpress.com
charlesmashburn said
Cool! Thanks, Abby!
Sarah Johnston said
You are amazing and so is all of your work. I enjoyed this so much and could see a small child going at this. I hope you will be sharing more each time I come here to read bring me back again and again. Thank you for sharing
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/09/08/the-crimson-witch/
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the wonderful comments, Sarah! I plan to participate as much as I can.
WyomingDiva said
What a fabulously nostalgic story – esp. the line about drying in the wind. My skin prickled in memory at that one!
charlesmashburn said
Thanks! I remember vividly, laying on the warm concrete, shivering, as the summer sun and breeze warmed and dried me.
I appreciate your kind comments!
Rosie said
That’s a fun, fun read. Thank you!
Rosie
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Rosie. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
RoughWaterJohn said
You must know me fairly well, to write about me so accurately. 🙂 Thanks!
charlesmashburn said
Yep. I know us purty good, John!
The Noiseless Cuckooclock said
delightful and brilliant.
🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
mbwilliams said
‘Soaked one and all from my cannonball
I toss them some toothless charm’
Love it – simple as that! Wonderful writing – and a precious memory
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, MB. I appreciate the great comments!
Caledoniapoems said
A wonderful poem – thanks for sharing it 😉
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for commenting on it!
Pat Cegan said
Fun poem, Charles. I used to do this to my sister, too. I loved to torment her. She still reminds me of that! Thanks for the sweet memory and fun poem. hugs, pat
charlesmashburn said
Too funny, Pat. I bet you were a handful!
Thanks for the visit and wonderful comments!
Poetry & Icecream said
Lol, I have memories of doing this myself but I was older than six. I enjoyed your poem 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Psst. A little secret… I was older than six, too. But I had to figure a way to get that “toothless charm” line in there. Shhh… don’t tell anybody…
Mandy Calvin said
Very charming! I love the imagery and the message in it. Dare to be daring. Thanks for stopping by Mandy Calvin’s Quill and commenting.
charlesmashburn said
You’re welcome, Mandy. And Thank you for the return visit and comments!
Ector Ward said
Brave boys with twinkling eyes grow into loving daddies. Thanks for the reminder.
charlesmashburn said
What a wonderful comment! Thank you!
pandamoniumcat said
Oh boys will be boys…delightful write!
charlesmashburn said
Ha! Thank you! Appreciate the visit and comment!
Alcina said
beautiful work :)..
Keep penning!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much!
CC Champagne said
Wonderful memories brought to life in this one! Very vivid in my mind’s eye (and nothing to do with Burt Reynolds or cars at all!)! Wonderful, simply wonderful!
charlesmashburn said
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the visit and comments!
caridwen said
Very fun! I remember those guys, too. Not that we girls didn’t have our fair share of dousing done as well! ;op
charlesmashburn said
I bet you did! Thanks for the visit and comments!
Baishali said
it made me smile … loved it 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thanks. Love to make folks smile!
Andy said
Hello Charles.
What a wonderful scene you’ve set. I can totally visualize it and you creating havoc with your “toothless charm”. I was never one for swimming. After a near fatal accident as a young boy, I never went near water again, but I did find other ways to make mischief!
Awesome as always!
Under Blinking Stars
charlesmashburn said
Sorry about your accident. I can’t imagine life without pools and lakes, etc.
I appreciate the visit and comments, Andy!
William Leed said
Beautiful!! Spent the summer taking the grandsons to the pool and you have definitely touched the emotions and memories of our summer fun. Thank you.
William
charlesmashburn said
Awesome! Cherish those times! They are some of the best you will ever have!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Classic NYer said
Haha! I remember that obnoxious kid who kept splashing all over the place…
charlesmashburn said
No no no, that was that other kid.
Thanks for the read and comment! I appreciate it!
Julian Javier said
kerplunk eh? haha i love it! reminds me of the other kids in my childhood who always thought i was different coz i always dared life.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for the visit and comments, Julian. Much appreciated!
ShonEjai said
What a brave soul. You have brought a smile to my face! I loved the adventure! Thank you!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you! I appreciate the visit and comment!
magher1 said
Very nice poem! You caught this little moment in your words perfectly 😉
charlesmashburn said
Thank you! I appreciate the visit and comments!
Nate said
the words and the story behind the poem.. is beautiful.. 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Nate. Your visit and comment is appreciated!
Just Sayin' said
Sweet! Loved it! 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for stopping by!
californiabean said
Captured a moment at the pool as a child that I remember so well – very nice.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Julie! I appreciate the visit and comment!
Inside the Mind of Isadora said
Just posted my Rally Poem … thought you might like to check it out even though I see you’ve completed the requirements.
Thanks, Charles.
Isadora
http://insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/autumn-a-will-i-must-obey/
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Isadora!
I will look at your poem. The link didn’t work, but I will find it.
Danielle Mari said
Oh man! You’re THAT kid! And there I was just getting my tan… 😀
charlesmashburn said
oopsie! And I remember you and your teenage girlfriends tanning over there. Don’t think the grinning six-year-old didn’t sneak a glance your way!
Thanks for the visit and fun comments, Danielle!
FreeHarry said
Very nice! An internal monologue that draws one in 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Harry! I appreciate the visit and kind comment!
The Old Raven said
Charles … your poems always transport me, always!
charlesmashburn said
What a wonderful comment! You’ve started my day off with a big smile!