Hickory Nut-Picking (Hocking Hills, Ohio)

We’ll go hickory nut picking the first frost, I know.
And again, I know, I won’t want to go.
When it’s just too cold to get out of bed
Under white woolen blankets striped yellow and red,
With pillows piled under and over my head.
But we’ll go down to the country, we will.
And there we’ll find the best hickory nuts still.
So small, and so little meat to eat;
So hard to open for so little treat.
But I’ll take my grocery sack to fill,
And I'll pretend I’m happy, I will.
‘Cause this is their favorite time of year
When the frost is on and the sky is clear.
Haven’t been to the country since I don’t know when.
And I’ll not go hickory nut-picking again.
But on frosty mornings, bright and clear,
When blankets are pulled up tight and near,
I’ll dream of sacks full, and Grandma and Grandpa, 
At this hickory nut-picking time of year.

Times That Try

These days shall be remembered, not for what
Are the errors of our generation, but for
The lies of the few who held high office in
Times of greed, fear, and utter desperation.
That we were so deceived, and did not
Try all means to demand justice in the face of vaunted
Men’s unjust treatment of the powerless, our 
Souls cry out to our children for redemption.

Happily Ever After

I think of you when sunlight
Bursts through the clouds after a storm.
I think of you when stars in the night sky
Whirlpool around the North Star.
I look for your beauty in each waking instance,
Afraid I’ll miss one passing glance.
 
I must stay, but while you’re away,
I’ll search for the essence of you.
I walk in dark woods and mark
The gentle beating of your heart
In the trickling of a forgotten creek and the
Creak-creaking of Redwoods in the wind.
 
Time heals the wounds of love’s fire and
Steals the blooms in the gardens of desire.
Maybe I’ll stay awhile in my gardens – still,
Without a word, you drop me to my knees,
And comfort me with sweet memories of our
Once Upon a Time.
 
Love is not ended just because you’re not here.
My blessings overflow with love to share.
Your blessings of grace bring tidings of love;
Love that prepares me for living.
You gave me a life, one to be lived  
Happily ever after.

 

View from the wagon - July, 1858

"We take turns walking," is Pa's rule,
"Unless a body is ill." meaning dead.
I like to look out the back of the wagon
To where we’ve been, and never again.

Knowing where I’ve been feels better
Than not knowing where I’m going.
The sun bakes the distant grasses so
I can see a rainbow of hills in the glow.

“It looks hot,” Ma will say, 
“I believe we’ve come fifteen miles today.”
And, I can see every one of them here
Out back till the grasses disappear.

I walk in the tracks of the wagon wheels
That bend the grass down smooth.
And I turn to look every now and then 
To where we’ve been, and never again.

One to go

From blue sky morning in to darkness This dust will never settle. It chokes the souls of those of us Who watch in disbelief, and hope - One still stands. Cracked and broken against A blue sky mixing with smoke. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks. One is down with dust all around - One to go. Note: September 11, 2001. This short poem is about the 102 minutes between when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed and when the North Tower collapsed.

Hospice (Sarah, 2014 – 2020)

The cold won't creep to touch her here
Safe and warm in her little room.
He keeps the wood fire burning near.
"For you," he whispers, "my dear."

What book will she choose for him to read?

He knows. The blue one on the shelf.

The story of a giant's one good deed
That to a poor child's fortune leads.

She'll jump when they fall at the giant's feet.
And cower under covers when he roars.
Then laugh when they trick him to his seat.
And she'll cry with the giant in defeat.

Her smile, in sleep, brings forth his tears
As for an hour her pain subsides.
Another kiss, to wrest the fear,
"For you," he whispers again, "my dear."

Once upon a time

And we lived happily ever after,
After the divorce.
When we finally had time for each other,
We couldn’t stand one another.

The lesson learned in leaving is
The same it’s always been.
Frost said there’s always something to be sorry for.
We should have said ‘I’m sorry’ more.

It was only a matter of time.
When we were young, it flew so slowly.
But time stopped when we were left alone
Familiar strangers, almost unknown.
 
We live happily ever after, now,
As we've found our other true loves.
But what might have been, first love of mine,
Once upon a time?