Even the most familiar surroundings were unrecognized
A most fathomless affair; the search for yesterday
The Old Library and playground were also gone
The Chinaberry tree, a landmark, was gone
A most strange emotion hovered over me,
And every trace of the homesite was gone
100722PSCtest, Bite Size. Line Gauthier. 2P
My best guess is that I must
have been 6 or 7. Back then,
long before boys like me turned
into men, I had a friend named Jack.
Anyway, I was just a little boy
when I first met him. He was
truly at-one with the entire
family, but I recall him being
given to me by my father. clearly,
no greater gift had I received
before the gift of Jack.
I loved him so very much, and his love
for me and my family was no less. He
was my pride and joy; always there for
me, to serve and protect. Our time together
was a most precious thing, but was shortened
by his untimely death.
My entire family loved him deeply; and we all were
there as we buried Jack under the Chinaberry tree in
our front yard. I think that part of my heart must have
been buried with Jack, because I have never again been
able to love a dog or any pet like I loved Jack.
090922PSCtest, BRIAN STRAND PREMIERE CHOICE. Strand
.
The poem was visualized on the front, screen porch,
in silence, in wonder...
It swarmed the Autumn-purpled flowers by the door,
leafed through reds, golds of the Chinaberry Tree...
sleucing words down Sunday-wet-tin,
onto the wooden steps.
The poem never stalked like Lady McBeth, through
darkness to her ending hall, last line spoken...
Never flew too close to the Sun, as Icarus,
gathered no Phoenix rebirth...
The poem did not herald a magical Sunday.
For the poem stayed on the front porch,
and was never written.
.
The touch of gossamer wings
on eyelids busy with the darkest,deepest
thoughts of sleep
under the chinaberry tree
bending,sighing
one with the sea of grass
windy waves
chasing each other across the yard
gone to seed
with dandelionsandforgetmenots
blueblack cats
hiding from lizards
until it is too late
coming back to bring you
a surprise
a gift of love
a wriggly trophy
to wake you laughing
from your dreams
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