Poetry: 'Re-Tired', 'Mercy or Justice'

Oh, what joy I had as a child,

Swinging on an old tire!

How I giggled and how I smiled!

How it set my soul on fire!

Around and around I would twirl,

Looking north, east, south, then west;

Then back, letting the rope uncurl.

Still and all, swinging was best.

Back and forth, getting near the trunk

Until I could kick off it

And wobble away, like some drunk

Or whirling dervish prophet!

My own days of such foolishness

Are now but a memory.

And yet, there's reason nonetheless,

To recall that old glory.

Now that I am retired, you see,

I have a grandson named Jack.

I'll bet he'd love to have a tree

On which to swing forth and back!

ROBERT P. TUCKER

Lakeland

MERCY OR JUSTICE?

It is so easy for us

to demand justice

when someone has

committed a horrible crime

But, we plead for mercy

when our life

is on the line.

WILEY O. BARNES

Haines City

[ Ledger readers are invited to send original poems to Write On!, The Ledger, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland 33802. Poems may be emailed to sherri.valvo@t eledger.com. Put poem in the subject line. No more than one a month should be submitted. Handwritten poems must be legible. Poems must be submitted and signed by the author. ]