The Swing Man
Quicker that a cat snatching
Mice from a corncrib
I’m up on a limb
High where blue eggs are warmed
And squirrels glare at the
Invasion.
Watch! Don’t get dizzy tilting
Your head back to see
This is a good limb
High where the air is clean
And the view! You ought
To see it!
Like a spider that’s sliding
Down its web I go
Underneath the limb
High where no man has been
Since its creation
Don’t worry.
Braced to drill a hole, turning
The lag deep into
The flesh of the limb
High where inchworms will inch
And little acorns will grow
Little caps.
Hook the cable on diving
In slow motion down
I’m leaving this limb
High where leaves clap their hands
For joy of Him who
Made us both.
Tie on the rope attaching
A seat with a knot
Don’t be impatient kids!
I am almost done!
Tarzan himself
Would be impressed.
Take the leap of faith joining
The birds in their flight
Trust the limb go up
High where the wind can catch
Your laughter and bring
You new life.
Nathan Dunlap 9/19/98
I wrote this poem to describe my experiences of helping Bill Anacker , “The Swing Man”,
install swings while our family lived with and near Bill and Margaret in the late 1990’s.
