Son's Story
IN DAYS OF OLD
THE PICTURES PROVE
THESE FLEDGLING SPECIMENS
WERE YOUNG AND FULL .
AND THE WHITE HAIRED LADY
WHO SAT BESIDE THEM WAS GRANDMA
AND THE WHITE HAIRED MAN
WHO SAT BESIDE THEM WAS GRANDPA
AND THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LOOKED
FOR BIRDS NESTS AMONG THE BRANCHES
WAS MOTHER.
TODAY IT RAINED
AND TONIGHT THE BRANCHES SPARKLE
NOT WITH THINGS
THAT LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS
OR PEARLS
BUT I THINK THEY LOOK MORE
LIKE RAINDROPS THAN ANYTHING ELSE
AND THEY SHINE
NOT FROM THE GLOW OF THE MOON
BUT OF THE STREET LIGHT
I'VE GROWN SO USED TO
AND THE BATS AND FLIES OF MANY SORTS
LIKE TO FLY AROUND.
TONIGHT I STOOD BENEATH
A TALL PINE IN MY FRONT YARD
ONE OF THREE I'VE SEEN
SINCE MY MEMORY WAS BORN
WE USED TO BUILD A COOL-ADE STAND
IN FRONT OF THEM
AND BID THE PASSERS BY TO STOP
AND BUY FREFRESHING BREW
FASHIONED BY A MOTHERS BUSY HANDS
SEASONED BY A TWINKLE IN HER EYE
2 CENTS A GLASS
2 GLASSES FOR 5 CENTS
WHO COULD RESIST A DEAL SO TEMPTING
ONE SAT NEATH THE TREE ON HOT DAYS
AND SLURPED WATERMELON
FRESH FROM THE STORE DOWNTOWN
AND WAITED AN HOUR TO GO SWIMMING
WITH ANOTHER FAMILY
A VINE ONCE COVERED MUCH OF ONE TREE
UNTIL I CHOPPED THE LIFELINE WITH MY HATCHET
AND EACH DAY I WATCHED THE INTRICACY
WITHER AND DIE, AND I WAS SAD...
AND THEN A RAINDROP FELL ON ME
WHILE I WAS STANDING STILL
AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE
TREE WAS WINKING
BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN THERE SO LONG
AND WATCHED SO MANY GENERATIONS COME AND GO
IT KNEW SO MUCH ABOUT
OUR FAMILY
AND I EXPECT THAT SOMEDAY
PICTURES OF OLD WILL PROVE
THAT THE WHITE HAIRED MAN
WHO SITS BY THE GUARDIANS OF
OUR FRONT DOOR
MIGHT VERY WELL
BE ME.
THIS A STORY WRITTEN BY SON MIKE WHEN HE WAS IN HIS EARLY TEENS,
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