Uncle Larry has been in a grumpy mood since he returned from Nam
Wears a perpetual permanent scowl on his face
his lips are always in a sarcastic style pout
He does this to keep people away
I hate people he says, which is not him at all
We nephews and nieces know better
this tough exterior with the leather jacket is a front
to keep people away, because he is a softie
he cannot say “no”; and it gets him into trouble.
He is always lending money to someone or giving them rides.
He has been taken advantage of time and time again.
This is why he wears this mean face, to protect himself.
It might work on strangers, but we live in a small town.
Everyone here knows the real Larry.
If you need anything, anytime, you will ask him first.
He is that kind of guy.
If you are
vacant of hope
Hope is vacant
of you
If you are
distant of spirit
Spirit
distant of you
If you are
absent of feeling
Feeling
absent of you
If you are
left without love
Love is left
— without you
(Rereading ‘Leaves Of Grass’: July, 2025)
you can be considerate and kind or snarly and mean
choices every day that are quickly made and rapidly seen.
Whatever you choose to do and say can bring happiness or hurt
So, think before you speak, said my Uncle Kurt.
He was a super nice man, who always thought of others.
Had been raised by a mother and sisters who thought they were mothers.
His compassion is still talked about; his advice books, high up on a shelf.
Whatever you do he told us, be true to your soul, always be yourself.
I sit alone beneath the sky,
Uncle, thinking of your last goodbye,
The world feels heavy, dreams unclear,
With every step, I carry fear.
Graduation looms - so close, so wide,
But doubt and worry walk beside.
You always knew just what to say…
I wish you could be here today
Uncle was a spelunker
drove to the caves
in his clunker
(it was quite the junker)
without a sound
he sunk underground
pitch black as night
and on his hat
a bright white light
(the switch it was waterproof)
to see which stalagmites
might reach the roof
where stalactites
clung on tight
unafraid of bats
flitting around
never flunking
Uncle loved going down
but sorely and sad to say
on one of those getaways
a painful cluster of bad carbuncles
curtailed Uncle's spelunking days
REMEMBERING UNCLE DOUG:
(Written by Michelle L. LeBlanc 05/24/2025)
Your love will always be remembered
As will your heart for family & friends
Thank you for your love and kindness
And your heart to give a helping hand
Though today your ashes are buried in the soil
Your love is deposited in our hearts
And although we may not see you now
We know your spirit did not depart
And now as you join with family
Of the ones who had gone on before
You are still having your family reunions
As those relationships have been restored!
My toe is sore a real ow
My toe is old, I don’t know how.
I chopped it off, a silly mistake.
Now it is worse, said Cousin Drake.
He is aged and out of his mind
His dementia is the very worst kind.
The toe is lost, we cannot find.
Uh-oh, on a chain and freshly shined.
He had a killer of a smile
But his mind was a blank
He could run a country mile
Though he was built like a tank
He got married eight times
But each bride soon brought him back
Rejected for his pebble-sized brain
My sweet smiling Uncle Mack
My young blind date thought he was hilarious
His antics were corny, ridiculously overdone and nefarious
Mother thought he was charmingly gregarious.
Why don’t you date him? Suggested Uncle Darius.
Uncle Jimmy was always bragging about his profits.
He constantly had things to sell.
I made two dollars, a ten percent profit.
I made five dollars, a twenty percent profit.
I made seventeen dollars, a fifty percent profit.
Actually everything he sells gives him a hundred percent profit.
He has never had a job.
His father has purchased anything he thinks he owns.
"Mumma,
Your brother touched me wrong"
She was shocked
She cried
Cut her ties
With her brother.
She listened
It stopped.
A she moved on.
"Mumma,
Your brother touched me wrong"
She assured
"I'll talk to him"
" But don't tell anyone "
"Shh!"
He kept coming
She listened
But it never stopped.
A she still there.
Dedicated to my dear uncle who passed away recently
Grief permeates throughout the place
and enters into the veins of my hand
as I take out my pen and sit
to ink my mournful thoughts into words
in dedication to you, dear beloved uncle.
The benevolent smile on your face
every time you greeted us to your home,
the kindness you showered upon us, and
the generosity with which you treated us
whenever we visited you at our native place
I could never ever forget.
Sweet fragrances from the blossoms of memories
of such endearing moments you gifted us
still linger in my heart.
To think that you are no longer among us
takes my mind for a moment
to the dark seas of bereavement.
Yet, I know, I have to accept the reality,
for, life can be of unforeseen happenings.
Tonight, when I would look up at the sky
and see the several millions of stars
am sure to notice one particular star
that would shine as bright as your smile.
Uncle Johnny’s stories were preposterous
borderline silly
but we pretended to believe
for Aunt Tilly’s sake
She never challenged his foolishness
Pretending his insanity was normal
We did not understand why
but we played along, letting her lead the way
In Grandma's house it was always fun and gay,
It always was a sunny day,
Going through that old front door,
Grandma calling do you want some more,
Come and have a cup of tea,
Have a biscuit, no take three.
Grandpa is out by his pond.
Watching his goldfish of who he is very fond,
Auntie is there shelling peas,
And Grandma's made a cup of tea.
The Children are playing out the front,
Over in the woods there is a leopard hunt,
Uncle is watching from the step,
The coalman is due, but he's not here yet,
On Sunday Amy is due at three,
And Grandma's made a cup of tea.
Grandpa takes the dog for a walk,
Come on in Amy we can have a talk,
Come and sit down and we will light the fire,
And then we'll have a cup of tea.
In that home where we all were born,
It was always happy and never forlorn,
Now it has gone but in our minds we see,
All the family sitting and having tea.
chocolate pudding for supper? Sure why not?
Shhh.....Differing opinions are not sought
I like my sweet foods, and milk products too
Keep your ideas to yourself, nephew naysayer Stew
I was just going to ask if there was enough pudding for me.
Well that is different, yes, I will share, said my Uncle Lee.
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