Month: May 2018

THE STAFF OF LIFE

My daughter has carved a stout hiking staff

For me to carry along Elysian trails.

She thinks that on that journey I will have

A need to warn sky bears to stay away.

We carried bear sticks once in Glacier Park

And bear bells tinkled merrily as we walked

Back when the ice fields still were white and hard.

That they would disappear we never thought.

The river of time runs either slow or fast

Depending on the season and the flood.

How much I’d give to live again the past

And I’d not change it even if I could.

 

 

 

KEEPING SCORE

My grandpa taught me to play cribbage.

“Two points for His Nibs,” he’d say

And if I’d wrongly count some cards

He’d take those points away.

He’d carve the turkey in the pantry

The spaniel at his feet.

Some bits of skin and gristle he’d

Let fall for Tippy to eat.

My grandpa smoked a fat cigar.

They said he liked to drink

Take up with women in the bars:

It gave me cause to think.

My calm and literate grandma never

Spoke of his defects.

Like her I’ll give him a measure of credit

But not my full respect.

“