Back To School

Winter time comes early
To the north part of this state
I walk along the river where we used to come and skate
The trees're now all gone and by the river
There's a sign
Trespassing is a twenty dollar fine

Looking up the road
Toward the schoolhouse on the hill
That thing about an empty building causes me to chill
My memory goes back to when the teacher rang the bell
The day she sent you home for saying hell

Walking past the building so important in my past
The road is full of ol' discarded bottles and some trash
I step behind the building
As I shelter from the cold
I see our names in letters big and bold

My fingers trace the letters of a work of art alone
And I recall the day that you carved it in a stone
Somehow I can see you now
With books and coat in hand
You always waved as down the hill you ran

Cokes were just a nickel then
And many were the times
The two of us would sip them as if they were village wine
And then on Graduation Day
We bought the little ring
And said that carats didn't mean a thing

Now I retrace my footsteps to the cab that waits for me
Looking back to see our names
You carved upon a tree
The driver says I look familiar
Asks me what's my name
I say, hurry
I have to catch a plane