Memories come and go as they do

Today I’m reminded of times long ago

When there were water bags

Not the plastic water bottles of today

Glued to our hands

Wherever we go

But the canvas water bags

Hung on a saddle

The side of a truck

Or the back of a horse drawn cart

I remember the smell

And the taste

On a hot summer’s day

Tipping it up to drink from the spout

The joy of the water

Wetting my mouth

For my mouth was dry

And the water was wet

It could have been warm

Or blissfully cool

But it was water

And I needed it so

We shared it around

With no thought of germs

They didn’t exist

When we were thirsty

Dry from the dust, the heat

And the little bush flies swarming around

They were good days

As I think of them now

With a smile on my face

Those days long gone

History now.