Ah, yes, there was life before the Internet, and most of us who were children or had children and/or grandchildren “back in the day” can relate to the following poem. I wrote it when my grandsons were about 2 and 4 years old, after watching them and my son play out the scene described. It’s written almost exactly as it happened, and it makes me smile.

Photo borrowed from Google Images

A Soaking Event

Two little boys, dad with the hose

they watch him and scream with fright

They warn he better not squirt them

yet, secretly, hope he might

Dad knows the game and watches

from the corner of a knowing eye

As they dance and run and laugh

‘neath the summer sun on high

Just a flick of the wrist at first

 a drop of water hits a smiling face

They yell with delight, run in a circle

and then ‘round the house they race

Mom’s watching out the window

smiling, she watches her boys

Love in her eyes a dancing

as their laughter and glee she enjoys

’Round the house they come running

the hose man waiting this time

Douses them good, a soaking event

they scream and then turn on a dime

And so the game goes on for a while

‘til they can’t run another lap

Though exhausted they argue bravely

‘gainst the theory of afternoon nap

With much grumbling they lay on the mat

smiles wide, they replay the scenes

Visions of more games tomorrow

in their eyes, and then…. in their dreams

Copyright © 1998 C. Mashburn