- Jackie Marx
On the Lake
Updated: Mar 31, 2022
Our best times were on the lake
in a leaky rental rowboat, oars slicing through the peaceful blue-green water smoothly gliding across the glassy surface Our best times were on the lake with our borrowed bamboo poles worms wiggling in a Maxwell House coffee can bluegills, crappies skewered on the metal stringer
Our best times were on the lake slamming back a couple six-packs smoking unfiltered Lucky Strike cigarettes scheming, dreaming—making plans Uncle Sam would change
Our best times were on the lake sun trading places with the moon, oar tips dripping with the last of the daylight, rowboat bumping across color-shifting water
Our best times were on the lake even in that final season saying our silent goodbyes to what used to be
traveling together toward uncharted waters
Our best times were on the lake