Category: Family
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Ricky
Ricky moved into a new house built on an old grass landing strip of Shambaugh Airport Three years older than everyone in 4th grade he’d chase me home from school One day, I ran into our house home early, Dad made me go back out and fight Ricky put me in a headlock I bit…
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September 1969
Whose car is that? …..Mine I didn’t say you could have a car …..It’s a gift If I thought you needed a car I’d get you a car …..An old couple whose yard I mow …..came by the grocery with it We don’t take charity …..Dad – they were just being nice No! they were…
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June sweat
By the mailbox, with a little sweat, a mattock and shovel, my grandson and I put three steps in the hillside. Why it took four years to start a project that took four hours I don’t know. I look around to see what project to start next and tell myself there is no rush, because…
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On hearing of my uncle’s death
footprints lead through dust in yard angel print arch trail ends hawk in dead pine ascend unexpectedly upward 8-23-20
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old photo
Tonight, I saw a picture of the last time we sat and talked We did not know it was our last time and that soon I’d race through the night across six states to listen to last breaths If we knew it was our last time would you have consented to a hug _____ We…
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a nickel a scoop
Hot summer on sidewalk a lost dime no one saw you pick it up Snuck bike from garage two miles to Frozen Custard a nickel a scoop You lean forward lick fast so it doesn’t drip on shirt and give you away 8-22-20
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Cherry thief
hot day supper’s hours away no one in the kitchen jar of Maraschino cherries sits alone in Frigidaire pop two in your mouth, flee out back door _____ return for supper angry Maraschino cherry mom questions pass blame suggest a sibling back hand to face “That’s for my cherries’ then another “That’s for lying” _____…
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Dreaming with migraine headaches
waking in a time loop of childhood terrors reading in front of class with a speech impediment holding your arm to control a tic trying not to hum or have outbursts in class scrapping in the hall because someone made fun paddlings in the office whippings when you got home suicidal thoughts you fought to…
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Kissing country girls
She said, “You have to leave!” I asked, “Why?” She replied, “No one comes out this far in the country” I smiled and said, “I do.” She said, “That dust cloud on the horizon is Daddy’s truck.” I got in my car and left 8-10-20
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an anniversary meditation
dust motes shimmer through trees on sunbeams I sip coffee and read Hibakusha stories trees shake from an earthquake in the mountains I haven’t heard damage reports, but it will be mild _____ on the anniversary of Nagasaki I reflect 70,000 vaporized in a rush for peace children, mothers, fathers a Shinto shrine and Catholic…