Simple

[Wjames]

We eased the canoe ashore
and smelt the car’s air freshener
differently.

Pepper roamed the woods
with a lazy tongue, collar clanging
warnings to the untrained squirrels.

Father set up our tent
in a needle bedded clearing
while I tended to the plumbing
in a hole out back.

A cliff near our camp
jutted straight from the water,
so we cooled off in the waves
of a twenty foot plunge.

[Cousin Kil]

I like what you have here, and it suits the title. There's no hidden agenda, and there's no intricate meaning. The poem just does what it does, and does it well. "So we cooled off in the waves/ of a twenty foot plunge." are my favorite lines. It's a very satisfying ending, I think. This was a pleasant read.

Enjoyed it,
CK

[Wjames]

Glad you like it, I struggled to give this one a title, so I'm glad that works as well.

[Mark A Becker]

Good one WJ-

Just a simple little story with simple, clear images. I'm there, and diggin it...

Thank,
... Mark

[Tiger the Lion]

We dragged the canoe ashore
and smelt the car’s air freshener
differently.

Pepper roamed the woods
with a lazy tongue, collar clanging
warnings to the untrained squirrels.

Father set up our tent
in a needle bedded clearing
while I tended to the plumbing
in a hole out back.

A cliff near our camp
jutted straight from the water,
so we cooled off in the waves
of a twenty foot plunge.

Hey WJ. I really like this too. Enough to tell you that a single word choice is killing me! For a short poem you've chosen a good number of connotationally effective words: Roamed, lazy, tended, cool, plunged all have a feel of Simple or easygoing. My one nit is with "dragged". It's the poems first verb and it's too far from simple and easygoing. The rest of the trip was anything but a drag - I don't want it to start that way.   Couldn't you just "ease" the canoe ashore"

Simple poem. Well done.
Paul

[Wjames]

Thanks for reading guys. Yes, you're definitely right Tiger, I do like eased more than dragged. The change is made!

[Volaticus]

What a pleasantly relaxing poem. And great title, it fits well with the scenery.
I especially like the laid-back feel and tone of the poem, very down to earth. For me, it makes the images stand out very vividly.
Great read. Thanks

[ellajam]

Hi, WJ, I enjoyed being taken on your trip. The whole of it has a softness that is luscious. A few notes below.

We eased the canoe ashore
and smelt the car’s air freshener
differently.
I ended on pine but I enjoyed reeling through the scents that are used artificially but sometimes stumbled upon in the woods.

Pepper roamed the woods
with a lazy tongue, collar clanging great image
warnings to the untrained squirrels.I think you could lose "the".

Father set up our tent
in a needle bedded clearing
while I tended to the plumbing
in a hole out back.

A cliff near our camp
jutted straight from the water,
so we cooled off in the waves
of a twenty foot plunge.
I'd prefer "so" gone, maybe with a change in the punctuation, but further, you might consider

A cliff near our camp
jutted straight from the water;
a twenty foot plunge
*the cooled line reworded as you see fit*

Just a few thoughts while reading, thanks for the invite to your moment.

[Wjames]

Thanks for reading guys. I agree with your thoughts Ella, I'll definitely cut "the", and I'll try and work on the last stanza. Sorry for the late response, I've been out of town, living out this poem the last little while.