Down Memory Lane

If I had power to choose from life
Just one day to relive and hold for aye 
Like a stuck record on a phonograph 
The self-same strain forever play-

It would be the day we wandered with our little 
brood, Beside the river on it's quiet way.
There everything in nature seemed extremely good
And heaven not so very far away.

The autumn leaves were sifting down in showers;
The autumn sun was shining warm and bright
The air was fresh with summer's dying flowers
While overhead  were southbound birds in flight.

We ate our picnic lunch and stopped awhile
In step with nature who was pausing , too
To catch the last of summer's smile
The first of autumn's wonders ,fresh and new.

Now  when the cares of life press hard about
And threaten to engulf me, too
I  often take this  treasured memory out
And muse on it until it lives anew.  

If all of life were golden autumn days
Perhaps we'd lose the wonder by and  by.
But to my Lord I raise this hymn of praise
For giving me this memory  -that will never die.

Janice Weeks, Chamberlin, Hankins, Rogers