The man's yard was white when the girls came and said,

"Build us a snow fort; no a castle," they plead.

So they donned their parkas and pulled their hoods low

And went out in the yard to build in the snow.

And the castle they built, when it was complete

Even Egypt's pyramids could never compete.

They were warm and secure when the winter winds blow

(Though the oldest one Thought she could swim in the snow.)

 

The puddles were deep when the man's yard turned brown,

The girls asked to go outside and splatter around

They put on their mud boots and bright yellow slickers

As they jumped in the mud; it grew thicker and thicker.

They were dirty and dripping, as wet as the ground

That's what occurred when the man's yard was brown.

 

The mud had dried up and the man's yard was tan.

"Let's go outside and dig in the sand."

So with shovels and pails, they went out the door;

The girls and the man began to explore

imagining they were digging up dinosaur bones

They stashed away treasures of sticks, rocks and of stones.

 

The yard was green, the girls  grabbed bats and mitts

"Come out in the yard and teach us to hit."

So he patiently taught them how to swing at the ball,

(Though the youngest one didn't get it at all.)

 

When It was yellow, they danced some ballet

Pirouettes and a demi plie

Their skirts were spinning as high as their waists

Joy and freedom danced on their face

"We're dancers, Daddy, watch us, please look."

(Though the middle one preferred to sit with her book.)

 

"We'll help in the yard," the three girls said,

When the leaves had fallen and he man's yard was red, 

They raked very little, the man worked the whole while

The girls real agenda was to jump in the pile.

They jumped and the leaves flew all over the yard

When his girls helped, the man had to work twice as hard.

 

Now the man looks at a yard that's turned gray,

The girls have grown up and each moved away.

The man understands it's how it should be

Yet he looks out his door, and almost can see

shadows of little girls dancing and digging

Swinging at baseballs, splashing and giggling.

The shadows are memories of an earlier day

the still sees when he looks at his yard that's turned gray.