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Childhood Memories of Trees in Our Backyard.

1. The lemon tree

When the toilet was busy
We went outside
And pissed on the lemon tree

2. The cherry-plum tree

Sometimes dad lifts me up
And lets me dangle
From the high chin-up bar

Ripe plums fall
If we walk around barefoot
They squish up between our toes

A tennis-ball, a sock
And a length of string
Hung up for backhand practise

I know so well
Where to put my feet
I could climb it with my eyes closed

The little red fruits
Are yellow inside
The skin tastes sour to me

3. The blood-plum tree

Climb to the top on boards
Dad has nailed to the trunk
Of the blood plum tree

From up here you can see
The whole world
It extends for about a block

I can see the tennis balls
We hit next door when
Hugh went six and out

The plums aren't quite ripe
Most of them are still green
We stuff ourselves anyway

When they are ripe
They are so soft and sweet
Red juice stains our lips and teeth

© Adam Ford, 1997

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