Mother Said He Was a Loon

Harry was a yelp and a skip and laugh every day. His clothes were red, and his voice a cackle. He made the kids jump, and he made them play. He was nuts, the grown ups said. But I was a lad, and loved him better than my Uncle Mot. He was hilarious, told jokes, and stories about hangings. He made my day better, and he listened and he taught. He was a loon, my mother told me. So if he is a loon, this man who made me happy This guy who made me smile and feel good, even great. Then I want to be a loon too, a nut-bucket, a crazy. Because he was the best, a guy truly first rate.