When I was a child
I once lived with my Mama and sisters
In the Carolina Pines
Down a winding clay road
At a place called Buffalo lake

Each day was an adventure
Life there was joyous
Many times my mind wishes
It is there I could have stayed

I feel truly blessed
Having had that experience in my past
Despite the fact I still hold
This deep desire that could not last

Begging Mama to swim early in the spring
She would say
"That water's not warm yet, You don't know everything"
"You might catch a cold!!"

I would say
"Mama please let me put my bathing suit on, I'll just wade,
I won't go past my knees"
I'd beg her till she was sold!!

I'd slowly ease my way
further away from the shore
Until, opps, well, I just couldn't
Control myself any more

"I know it's a lake Mama,
But I swear there was an under tow"
"It took control of me
Head first I dove
But it's not even cold"

That would be the start
of the spring
Into the summer I would sing

I had my first sip of moonshine
Swigged out of a Tylenol bottle
given to me by a friend of mine
in the forest of the pines

Fourth of July was always a blast
I can still imagine the fireworks over the water
even though it was so many years in the past

Next thing you know
It was time for school to start
It brought forth grief
In my heart

They would drain the lake the first few miles
It turned into nothing but a big mud pile
My friends and I would tread through the mud
Searching for treasure lost
Throughout the summer from above

I will never forget the time I was
cornered in the mud, by the two horrific geese,
As I sunk deeper
They treated me like a piece of cheese

They pecked at my legs
Till I was all the way down
Then they started attacking my crown
About that time the boy
I had my first crush on
Stepped in and defended me
He ****** the geese gone

Don't get me wrong
All the times there were not easy or fun
In those times my Mama was a single Mom
She was going to school and working too
When times were hard she would say
"Peanut butter and Jelly will make you strong"

I could tell you other stories,
Some would say were bad
I consider them to be wisdom of my soul
In each experience that I've had

The lessons I learned by
The lake down the red clay road
Have blossomed into values
Some will never hold

I want to tell others of all the good
And Yes of all of the bad
My purpose is not to make them
happy or sad

My purpose is just to let them know
Enjoy both the good and the bad
Life is an honor
We are blessed to bestow