The Times They'Re Always Changing Poem by C R Clark

I’ve always loved the woodlands
Even when I was a boy
To hunt and fish and camp out
Would bring me endless joy

The grownups went to deer camp
It seemed the time would never come
When I was old enough to go
And be trusted with a gun

But, when the time had finally come
In an instant I was hooked
The camping and the hunting
I could never get enough

Then, on through my teenage years
My fever just got worse
From dawn till dusk out on my stand
Or stalking through the woods

The grownups started “wimping out”
After only a few days
I’d tease and shame them as they left
But, I was going to stay

It went on like that for quite a spell
I would often hunt alone
Our camp was big for a little while
Then most of them went home

Then when I was in my twenties
I met this “pretty thing”
We were married in the autumn
Just before deer season came

I told her how I loved to hunt
She said that would be all right
But when I left her at the door
My throat felt kinda tight

That year we had a bigger camp
Kinfolk came from near and far
Dad had bragged about my prowess
How I’d hunted long and hard

I sat my stand quite early
Well before daylight
Then suddenly it occurred to me
“I can’t stay out here tonight”

My “sweet thing’s” waiting back at home
While I’m sitting in a tree
But, what’ll I tell them back at camp
When they see I’m gonna leave

For all the past few years
I’ve shamed them without mercy
And told them “they were wimping out”
When they left the woods too early

I tried to think up an excuse
For going home that night
But, the more I tried, the more I knew
That bird weren’t gonna fly

I’d just go back to camp early
And create a little smoke
They’d all still be out hunting
And I’d just leave a little note

But then when I got back to camp
Much to my surprise
Every one of them was there
Standing around the fire

Now what’s the chance of that, I thought
As I was walking in
And then I noticed on every face
A silly, smirky grin

You’re early son, my dad piped up
Didn’t ‘spect you in till dark
I said well.....I....ah...I don’t know
I ain’t feeling none too smart

My uncle said “I can see it, boy
You’re about to get the shakes
You best go get that purty girl
To put a cool rag on your face”

He said “Son, I know what’s wrong with you
You’re suff’rin from withdrawal
You best go home and get it fixed
You can try again tomorrow”

Then laughter burst out ‘round the fire
It sounded loud as thunder
Then I knew that I’d been had
I’d really made a blunder

As I drove off down the road
My windows rolled up tight
I could hear the “heehawing” back at camp
Till I got plumb out of sight

That day I learned a lesson
Now, I don’t do much haranguing
‘Cause, to paraphrase what Dylan said
The times they’re always changing

Copyright C R Clark- 6/3/2007