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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