For more than a decade I only knew you in passing,
On my way to Albuquerque or Santa Fe,
After a potty pit stop, or some vehicle gassing,
A glance from the highway at a place to play.
A four hour drive is all such a trip takes,
But for kids far too long to sit still,
Now that I’m a dad, we have to take breaks,
Or the noise in the backseat starts to get shrill.
But central New Mexico is an empty place,
And north of Roswell all civilization is gone,
No place to stop in this wide open space,
Till 90 minutes later you roll in to Vaughn.
A gas station, a diner, an old motel or three,
Built at a point where two railways meet,
Vaughn doesn’t offer that much to see,
But lately, its playground has been quite the treat.
Tis’ a small playground, as one might guess,
Just a few slides and swings and climbing toys,
But a weary traveler might settle for less,
To sooth restless young girls and boys.
Vaughn playground, you are a paradise to me,
A child’s oasis for parents to go,
The one place to let little legs run free,
While driving across New Mexico.
