Picture
~Kathy & me~
~as a man working the soil~
~so I appreciate my daughters & sons~
~imagine a friend for life~
~that is a long time~
~& so the five of them are~
~imagine the harvest perpetuating itself~
~so it has~
~further gifted with a partner to share the love~
~complete the circle~
~family~
 ~so it is done~
~a joy to keep – a~

~treasure~

~I used to get aggravated on holidays~
~trying to choose the right gift~
~something special for loved ones~
~telling them not to worry about me~
~my agitation was sorely exasperated~
~if I happened to be broke at the time~
~never seemed to have enough money or credit~
~to cut loose & buy whatever I chose~
~I confess I was as excited as everyone else~
~{except the children}~
~wondering what was in that package with my name on it~


~my folks have long been gone~
~{is there anyone left who refers to their parents as folks}~
~siblings blown away/scattered by the winds of life~
~as if they exist in another realm of time & space~
~as do I in my tower of word~
~I have lived long enough now~
~experienced the big ol’ world~
~seen folks alone~
~all the way alone~
~yeah, those folks & others~
~in alleys & penthouses~
~islands adrift in wandering crowds~

~I ain’t easy to know & I know it ain’t easy~
~through all the struggles of this life~
~there has always been someone who cared for me~
~there to pick me up & know~
~when to turn away & let me go~
~my mother first & children~
~before & when she passed away~
~we held one another always~
~starving & laughing~
~feasting & weeping~
~round the family camp our fire~

~grandchildren~
~when they place a gift in my hand~
~are likely to see a tear~
~a smile visiting my lips~
~what greater gift is this love~
~I have always held~
~& a tear for those who don’t~

~a weighty pride to bear alone~
~that hunger to reminisce & share~
~the good love for the little ones~
~& their folks who were my little ones~
~I slept with a ghost who knew these parts of me~
~she listened & never complained that I kept her awake~
~she seldom slept & neither did I~
~I treasured her existence & promised myself~
~to always be loyal & true to her~
~that one day she would answer~
~hold my hand & kiss my face~
~be folks with me & one day it was so~

~this is for Kathy~
~my treasure, my wife~
~the unexpected joy~
~she has brought to my life~

http://wordwulf.com
WordWulf
Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com
& wordwulf@wordwulf.com
©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

 
 
~in loving memory of Momma~
  ~love, hope & prayers for brother Jack~
  ~deepest devotion to my children & grandchildren~

~Family Thanksgiving~

~a basket full of hugs & kisses~
  ~a piece of cherry pie~
  ~a warm smile on a cold morning~
  ~a place to go & cry~
  ~stories to tell & secrets to keep~
  ~those kites that refuse to fly~
  ~holidays at Grandma’s~
  ~& there’s Grandpa’s knee to ride~

~a symphony of tiny voices~
  ~pictures hanging on the wall~
  ~loneliness & happiness~
  ~bathtubs in the hall~
  ~beginnings & birthdays~
  ~& fires in the fall~
  ~those letters that say, “I miss you~
  ~I miss you most of all”~

~all the fourth of Julys exploding~
  ~& when there’s a scraped-up knee~
  ~magick kisses chase the pain away~
  ~& cats up in the tree~
  ~new shoes & hand-me-downs~
  ~those brand new glasses, “I can see!”~
  ~fighting & loving & loving & fighting~
  ~the past that’s the past of “me”~

~bicycles & training wheels~
~& time gets in the way~
  ~fairy tales & teeth under pillows~
  ~that place where the old dog lays~
  ~special seats to sit & blankets to hold~
  ~report cards & bright sunny days~
  ~little pockets full of bugs & bolts~
  ~picnics & camping & weekends away~

~where some friends belong & some are just friends~
  ~all kinds of neat stuff to share~
  ~noses & roses & photograph poses~
  ~everyone’s favorite chair~
  ~countless messes made by “Mister No One”~
  ~the search for the three-legged teddy bear~
  ~pennies in couches, pencils & cookies~
  ~the feeling: there’s always someone who cares~

~it’s you I’m really talking about~
  ~& the others I’d like to see~
  ~what we are is what it really means~
  ~to be part of a family~
  
~I guess drifting apart is natural~
  ~the way Gods intend it to be~
  ~to be apart and a part, full circle~
  ~is to be part of a family~

~we all must grow in our own direction~
  ~surely we must strive to be free~
  ~but ever so often we should meet & remember~
  ~what it means to be family~

~it is you I’m really talking about~
  ~the pieces of you that are me~
  ~the pride I feel in the sharing~
  ~being part of a family~

~Family Thanksgiving was published by Mel Brakes Press 2010~
http://wordwulf.com
WordWulf
  Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com
  & wordwulf@wordwulf.com
  ©artwork & words conceived by & property of
  Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

 

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