Beach Pond

Way down in old Connecticut

And partly in Rhode Island too

Lies a peaceful, quiet lake that

Those who camped there remember still

As just Beach Pond, though pond it’s not.

‘Tis three miles long and half as wide

With pines and hemlock all around

Its giant rocks and pad-filled coves.

This lake I’ve been to since a child

Where parents pitched a tent to dwell

With children on a sandy shore

But got rained out and so we spent

Most of our time inside the tent

And nearly drove our parents wild

And all the fishing plans we had

Went by the board, so we went home.

Since then my parents often went

Back to this lake but did not tent

For cottages were there to rent

And one of these would be our home.

No fear of rain or other ails,

We’d fish for bass in daylight hours

Or spend the night out on the lake

Just catching horned pout for the morn.

            -2-

And once we set forth on the trail

And walked for miles to Escoheag

Then ‘round the road past Tippecan

Until we cut the trail again.

Then descended until we came

Back to the cottage and the pond.

And swam to clear the dust and grime

‘Til mother called “it’s supper time.”

These are the memories I have

Of Beach Pond days now in the past,

Of swimming, fishing, sailing too

Wherever Green or Briggs girls came

And took us out on their swift boat.

We’d sail and tack, then sail some more

And after many hours of fun

Would once again come back to shore.

The summer next was ‘forty-one

The cottage rented in advance,

 But each of us had grown a lot

And wanted friends to join our fun.

Too many came, there was no room

So Larry, my best friend, and I

Just put our things in my canoe

And paddled down near Pine Tree Point.

            -3-

It’s there we stayed, in the same spot

Where rain had devastated plans

My parents had for all us kids,

Who now were safe from heavy storms.

Same parents who had left their kids

Had gone back home, and then returned

With tent and poles and other things

We would need as we camped alone.

We raised the tent, and stowed our gear

Then went to sleep out on the lake.

We settled down under the seats

He at the bow, I at the stern

And deeply slept, mosquito free.

We’d wake, and oft as not would find

A fog so thick we knew not where

We were, and so went back to sleep.

When we awoke, the fog was slight

With sun and warmth just burning thru

Sometimes we’d drift close in to shore

While often we’d be near the end.

But where we went it mattered not

For we could always paddle back

To eat our breakfast, have a swim

As naked as the day we’re born.

            -4-

The time was short, it went by fast.

We’d hardly used the tent, but spent

Our nights out sleeping on the lake.

But often as the nights came on

The lake would still, and moon would rise

And we, like most amorous youth

Would ask the older girls if they

Would like to paddle ‘round the lake.

My father once did question me

And asked me what was my intent

When I had asked my sister’s friend

To take a ride in my canoe

When Patty, for that was her name,

Intervened, and told my dad

That she was sure that I’d behave,

She’d known me for so many years.

            -5-

And so I asked her out that night

But saw her in a different light

No longer little sister she

But one who'd found maturity

Who had developed graceful ways

And with a smile that now did say

That she no longer saw in me

The brother figure of the past.

Now in those days the best canoes

Had four long pillows with backrest too

And for this purpose were designed

To give sheer comfort to a girl.

So when my Pat was covered well

With blankets hiding chilly legs

I knelt and paddled toward the rock

That loomed so bright on yonder shore.

            -6-

We paddled southward for a while

And then turned west, so Pat could see

The rising moon, so full and round

Pat Paulson's graduation picture, June 1944

That spilled its light out on the pond.

We moved along more slowly now

With just a hint of light gray mist

That touched the surface here and there

As wraiths upon a surface still.

No words were said, for she and I

Would not disrupt the beauty of

This night. While somewhere off along

The shore, a whip-poor-will did call,

And broke the spell of quietness

That seemed to hover over all.

And when the quiet was disturbed

‘Twas then that I began to sing.

I sang to her so quietly

That only she could hear and know

The song, though using different names,

Was meant for her, and only her.

I sang a song so often heard

Of “How I loved the kisses of

Dolores,” but changed the name and

Sang “Patricia” to her instead.

            -7-

These were the words I sang to her

And when I’d sung this made up song

She murmured back, “How would you know?”

I looked at her and then I asked

If it was time that we should kiss.

She nodded, and with paddle in

I leaned toward her, both hands on thwarts.

We met halfway, our lips did touch

And as we kissed, a long sweet kiss,

We did not touch, except our lips

Yet never gentler did I feel

Than toward this girl before me now.

I’d meant to lie down by her side

And hold her softly in my arms

But passion started welling up

So I leaned back and paddled on.

Most men, less tactful, would have tried

To take the innocence from her,

But she had stated to my dad

That she had trust and faith in me,

And I had stated to him, too,

That I would show respect to her.

And so I paddled her back home

And went back to the tent to sleep.

            -8-

I guess that here I should explain

Why Pat and I did not pursue

That tender sweetness that was ours

The love we’d found in early life.

My dad was wise in all his ways

And now he took me to one side

And spoke to me as man to man

About Patricia and our love.

Of all the girls that I have seen

She is the one for you, by far.

She loves to roam the woods and trails

With me alone or all of us.

A daughter she has been to me,

Who listened well when e’er I read

A story, or a poem to all

And always was so close to you.

But in your love there is a catch,

She is Catholic – you are not.

And marriage of two different faiths

Generally does not work well,

Unless you’re willing for your kids

To be raised as Catholics, too.

So that’s the problem facing you

And caution now I do advise.

            -9-

We saw each other after that

At home, at school, yet did not date

And together were often joined

When she and I were both alone

With neither having dates that night

Yet were a part of larger groups.

So we reverted to our roles

As brother, sister once again.

Roles that neither cared much for,

And though the wisdom of this stance

That mixed marriages often fail

Was clearly seen by she and I,

We knew our dreams could never be.

And so she wed an army friend

But still remained so close to me

With Beach Pond memories intact.

            -10-

The year was nineteen forty-two

We’re out of school and summer’s here

Larry and I lay on our grass

And watched the stars, our thoughts out loud.

How quiet this night of stars would be

If we could watch while floating free

Upon the waters of Beach Pond.

“Let’s camp,” I said. “Let’s go,” said he.

And so we packed our camping gear

With high school past and service near

To spend the summer of forty-two

Upon the lake we loved so well.

His mother’s car we loaded up

And putting my canoe on top,

Put in the tent with poles and pegs

With fishing rods and paddles, too.

We said goodbye to family

And headed out away from town

His mother driving while we spoke

Of when she’d come to pick us up.

We made the journey to the lake

And parked the car close to the bridge,

Then loaded my canoe with gear

And headed out across the lake.

            -11-

We had about a mile to go

He at the bow and I the stern

We crossed thru afternoon’s mild chop -

The breeze was coming from the west.

But even with our Old Town low

We made good time, and soon put in

To that hidden sandy cove
Where we had camped a year ago.

We unloaded our gear at once

And set to work upon the tent

Then after that we built a fire

For suppertime was drawing near.

We ate and then went for a swim

Then after worked upon our beds -

Well off the ground our bunks must be

In case of rain or creeping things.

The rest we left until the morn

And put it either in the tent

Or ‘neath the overturned canoe,

Then watched the fire ‘til coals turned dark

And heard the sounds of night begin,

Mainly crickets and whip-poor-wills.

Thus as we climbed into our beds

We sighed and knew our dreams were true.

            -12-

Now Larry was a baritone

Who had a strong and well-trained voice.

He often sang around the camp

Or hummed while daily chores were done.

But when at night and lake was still

He’d raise his voice and sing a song

And hoped that someone ‘cross the lake

Would hear and ask, “Who sings like that?”

And so one night he sang his song

“In the Still of the Night,” I think,

But when another verse was due,

That verse came back from o’er the lake.

We were startled to say the least

That someone heard, a baritone

Who knew the songs that Larry knew

And sent his voice across the deep.

We hurried into our canoe

And crossed the lake in record time.

With Larry singing now and then,

And with the unknown baritone,

They filled the night with many songs

Of Nelson Eddy’s repertoire

Paired with Jeannette McDonald’s voice,

A pair that none could ever best.

            -13-

As we got close, we heard a voice

That called for us to come on in.

We did and met our baritone,

The father of these goodly folks.

And after all were introduced

We went into their cottage home,

And while a daughter played the tunes

We sang and sang, in harmony.

When all were tired, we said goodnight

And slowly plied our way across.

We knew we’d met a wondrous group

Of people, all who liked to sing

And harmonize when e’er they could.

And after crossing we did swim

Then made our way to bed, and slept

Uninterrupted ‘til the dawn.

And so the days did pass us by

We fished, we swam, or simply loafed.

We’d gotten tanned, and I mean dark

With bacon fat rubbed on our backs.

We picked a lot of blueberries

To make the slumps which Larry loved

And oft’ we’d simply paddle ‘round

The lake to gaze upon its shores.

            -14-

And as we paddled ‘round the lake

We noted bluffs and giant rocks

With sandy beaches interspersed,

With hemlock growing near the shore

And quite close to our camping place

Were ledge-like rocks where we could dive

And so we found our swimming spot

With water deep and oh so clear.

And here it was we saw the girls

Perched on rocks not too far out.

Dropped off while father went to fish

And they were left to tan a bit.

Larry whispered, “I dare you to

Swim out there to see if they

Would like to join us here to swim

Until their dad returns for them.”

And never passing up a dare,

I swam to them and let them know

Who I was and what we proposed.

One was younger, her name was Joan;

The older simply beautiful,

With tanned up skin, and long dark hair.

“I am Paula – Paula Ballou,

And we must stay ‘til dad returns.”

            -15-

And so I stayed and talked with them

And soon I learned that she was proud

To be a majorette at school

And would be here for one more week.

Would I be here that length of time?

“Yes,” I stated, “and would you care

To see the lake when evening comes?”

Yes, she answered, that would be fine.

I did not know her very long,

Perhaps an hour, or less I’d say,

And yet we got along so well

That we could end up as a pair

And so she did not hesitate

To answer yes, when I proposed

To see her early Monday eve.

And so I swam back to the rock

To find a Briggs boy waiting there

With a message from my mom

That said my dad was very ill,

That I should come immediately.

I left with nothing on my back

And hitched a ride to Providence

And soon was back to my own home.

            -16-

I entered and went up the stairs

To my father’s room, where he lay

So pale yet happy I was there

For dad and I were very close.

He said to me, “I’m glad you’re here,

But go back soon and stay your time.

I’m sure I’ll last 'til you get home

Then we can talk of what’s ahead.”

I stayed two days, then headed back

That’s what my father said to do.

I went by bus to Hope Valley

Then hitched my way up to the lake

And did the last four miles on foot.

I got back in time to see the

Bacon Larry put in a pan

And with my help mixed pancake dough.

We ate, then swam to get cleaned up

I dressed in jeans and clean white shirt

Then placing backrest against the thwart

I put in pillows and blankets too.

Then telling Larry I’d be late

I shoved off quickly from the shore,

Slid quietly toward setting sun

And headed down to Paula’s home.

            -17-

I reached the sauna at her home

Where all her family did wait

To see this boy who was to take

Their daughter out upon the lake.

I docked, with introductions made

Her father, mother, brother too,

Her sister Joan, the one I knew,

Then father said, “Don’t be too late.”

And after we were settled in

We waved goodbye and moved away

From setting sun, and toward the east

Where moon was rising o’er the hills.

We paddled quietly at first

Then spoke a little of my dad

Who had insisted I come back

To take this girl out on the lake.

Then after talking for a while

And slowly paddling up the lake,

We listened to the evening sounds

The lonesome calling of the loons,

The whip-poor-wills whose songs were low

But carried well, to fill our hearts

With quiet longing we both felt

To be together here, and so.

            -18-

I slowly brought the paddle in

And moving forward to her side

I turned and lay beside her, then

I placed my arm around her back.

Her head she rested on my chest

And thus we lay with hands entwined

Saying nothing yet we knew

That love had come to each of us.

We lay that way for quite some time

She with her thoughts and I with mine

And watched the climbing moon that shone

Upon the stillness of the lake.

We spoke at last, and wondered how

We seemed so natural as a pair

As though we’d known each other years

When overall it was just hours.

‘Twas then we turned, came face to face

And knew our love was meant to be.

I kissed her forehead, hair, and cheek

While she just waited there for me

To take her in my warm embrace

And for the first time kiss those lips.

I did, and ‘til the day I die,

I will remember that first kiss.

            -19-

We stayed out there upon the lake

And drifted with the slightest breeze

Until the great horned owl’s hoot

Reminded us that it was late.

And so, I once again began

To paddle, past our silent camp

Past Pine Tree Point, and past our rock

Until we came again to home.

I held her tight before she left

And said I’d come in two more nights -

I’ll wait, she said, no matter what -

Then I kissed her a final time

And watched until she closed the door

Then left, and with my thoughts on her

I paddled back to darkened camp

And finally to bed I went.

The sun arose, the day went past

And though we swam, and fished, and tanned

My thoughts of Paula always seemed

To turn me from the work at hand

And then to get my thoughts on track

We decided we ought to fish

The open pools at Tippecan

Where dad had told me fish were huge.

            -20-

The next day, though, we did sleep late

But rising we did swim, and ate

Then shouldering our good canoe

We started up the trail to fish

The backwoods pond of Tippecan

Where lily pads and reeds abound

With open water here and there

Permitting space for our canoe.

We fished for perch at first to get

Their yellow bellies that were great

For catching pickerel when cast

And wiggled back, so like a fish.

Larry paddled and I fished first.

I cast the bait and watched it fall

Just short of lily pads and then

I let it sink, then did retrieve.

Nothing happened for a while

Then on another cast, I felt

The strike, then let him chew the bait.

And when I saw the line begin

To move, I knew he had it well,

So set the hook, then fought as I

Had never fought a fish before

That he was big, was all I knew.

            -21-

He headed for the lily pads

‘Twas all that I could do to keep

That fish away, and in the clear.

The rod was bent in a great arc

And though Larry sculled so hard

The fish still pulled the boat around

And headed for the depths to sulk.

He did not leap, for pickerel don’t

Nor the steel leader could he cut

He just stayed deep, but gradually

He began to tire, and finally

He surfaced and we netted him.

His length was twenty-four inches

Just two feet, that up to then, was

The biggest fish I’d ever caught.

Now it was Larry’s turn to fish

And so we traded end for end

I got the paddle, he the pole

I sculled until the boat was set.

He fixed his bait and made his cast

And to our surprise he got a strike

In the same spot where mine had hit

What followed then, had gone before.

            -22-

And finally when in the boat

He measured just the same as mine

That was more fish than we could eat

And so we packed up all our gear

But stopped to watch two otters play

Romping near the swampy shore

Oblivious that they were seen

Ted with both fish

By humans who so rarely came.

And so we left, for the hike back

But first took pictures of our fish

So people in a future time

Would know our fishing tales were true.

We left and took the fire break back

The trail that runs between the states.

It was a chore in getting up

And over rocks that blocked our way.

But once we’d gotten our canoe

Up and over this high crest

We made much better time and so

Reached our camp ‘ere sun did set.

We swam again before we ate

Then had one fish, which was enough

And so we put the second out

Where foxes could eat to their content.

            -23-

The mosquitoes were thick that night

So we slept out upon the lake

Waking early, then paddling in

To take our usual morning swim.

Then had a sumptuous morning meal

Of flapjacks, bacon and cocoa.

We watched the sun rise in the east

And were ready to start our day.

It was that night that I would see

My Paula at her lakeside home

So Larry planned on dropping me

At her place while he crossed the lake

To visit with the folks we’d met

Who liked to sing as well as he.

And so with plans made for the night

We spent the day just resting up.

The day passed slowly, at least for me

And shadows lengthened gradually.

At last we ate, then took a swim

To get cleaned up before we left,

He off to sing, and I to see

That girl I’d come to love so well.

He took the stern, and I the bow

So each could go his separate way.

            -24-

The night was cool as we approached

The landing where I soon would meet

The girl I had been pining for.

The sun was way down in the west

The moon just rising in the east

The whip-poor-wills began their calls

As we came in to dock and saw

Her standing on the sauna deck.

We moved the boat into the dock

I took my coat and rifle too

For I must make the trek that night

Back to the camp on trails unknown.

I gave the boat a shove, then turned

And climbed the steps to Paula’s side.

She turned and came into my arms

And then I knew she loved me too.

We stood a while, before we kissed,

Her arms were tight around my neck

Her cheek was nuzzled to my chest

While I in turn just held her tight.

I stroked her beautiful long hair

Then tipped her face up for my kiss,

I kissed her then, so hard and long

And knew she understood my love.

            -25-

We were alone, so arm in arm

We sat upon the glider swing

And watched the moon which rising high

Was casting shadows o’er the lake.

We talked of what our future held

As she went back to school, and I

Worked ‘til I had reached an age to

Select a service of my choice.

We talked then held each other tight

And kissed each other in between

Then talked some more, until her dad

Did call and say the hour was late,

She should come in and very soon.

And so I walked her to her door

Embraced her in our final hug

There on the shores of our Beach Pond.

She slowly climbed the cottage steps

And paused to look at me once more

Then disappeared into the house

And left me standing there alone.

I stood a moment ‘fore I left

Then donned my jacket for ‘twas cool

And slinging rifle ‘cross my back

I made my way back toward our camp.

            -26-

Thru woods I went, then by the trail

What light there was, was from the moon

Which cast long shadows on my way

And caused me to watch warily

Until I came out in the field

Where we had picked our blueberries

And thus returned once more to camp
To find my friend was fast asleep.

We had a day before we left

But Paula’s family did go

That morning. So the two of us

Just did the things we came to do

We swam, we fished, we loafed around

And waited ‘til the sun went down

Then out we went in our canoe

To sleep our last night on the lake.

When we awoke and paddled in

We ate, then went in for a swim

Our last in quite a while we felt

Not knowing what the future held.

We packed our gear, knocked down the tent

Then packed it all in our canoe

And paddled slowly ‘cross the lake

To meet his mother, then depart.

            -27-

That was the last that we would see

This lake we loved, and carefree days

Until our service years were done

And we returned to its fond shores.

That summer was the best of times

I’d found a girl I loved so well,

That fall would be the worst of times

I lost a dad so dear to me.

But time goes on and years go by

And Paula’s gone far to the west

Although we managed four good years.

She finally wed, and I did too.

We often bring our children here

To wash off salt from Moonstone Beach

Then run and play in all the sand

In this my lake, my old Beach Pond.