It was our summer time

A thunderstorm had just passed

Bringing warm clear blue skies

Laura and I walked in our youth

Happiness held in our carefree hearts

As we walked and we sang a surprise we did spy

Crossing the road ahead we could see

The greatest mud puddle lay still and untouched

The muddy silt was smooth like a pudding

There were no lumps or rocks not even bumps

The smooth golden red mud laid waiting for us

Laughter ensued and the mud did fly

We romped and played in the deep muddy flow

Delight was found as we covered every inch

The golden red clay’s allure was so completely entrenched

Falling down laughing we sat in the middle

.

Raising our arms and eyes up as to capture the skies

We experienced pure joy and our freedom was real

A memory to treasure forever that day

Many moments have passed since that mud puddle day

Moments of sadness and love have all passed away

Too soon Laura passed leaving a great emptiness

Her memory kept close as the years swept away

Now that my body can no longer romp

I remember our time in the great muddy swamp

Oh to be able to hold on to pure joy

To capture the feelings of freedom we found that day

Only I tell the story of our great muddy play

I alone hold the memory of that mud puddle day

IN 1961 LAURA DIED OF ACUTE LEUKEMIA SHE WAS JUST TWENTY ONE SHE LEFT A BABY DAUGHTER BEHIND WHO WOULD NEVER KNOW OF HER MOTHERS HAPPY AND JOYFUL SPIRIT AND THE FRIENDSHIP SHE SHARED WITH A FRIEND WHO STILL MISSES HER