Jackie
Mommy? Grandma?
Why are you crying?
Did I do something wrong?
No, Jackie. No, Punkin'.
It's not you.
We're crying for the bygones.
We're remembering Uncle Jack.
Grandpa's trumpet
was one of the things from home that he took along
with him into the war.
The trumpet didn't come back, and neither did he.
But you're here, so Uncle Jack will live on.
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2016
Mary Lee, this is a touching poem. While remembering a war hero you also captured the memory of a month-long journey of writing. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThe trumpet is a such a vivid detail. I will miss these folks!
ReplyDelete"family"
generally
a snap happy clicker
shouts
"Say cheese"
and there is time
to move closer
suck in the gut
lift the chin
smile broadly
but occasionally
the camera is too quick
smiles do not have time to fix
a sliver of doubt
a gleam uncertainty
are captured for all time
Not all families
take happy pictures
(C) Carol Wilcox, 2016
PHEW!
This photo makes a good companion piece to some of your family-oriented slices.
DeleteEnjoy May! BREATHE! Only write when you want to! I wish we could meet at Tattered Cover today and clink our coffee/tea mugs in celebration!
:-)
I wish we could meet too! Kevin and Steve and the others too!It would be fun to debrief this experience!
DeleteCarol, I like the way you focussed in on those expressions and the little stories behind the photo. "Not all families/take happy pictures"
DeleteI agree with Carol, so touching. I want to know more about how the family deals with the loss of Uncle Jack, about the changing scene on the farm as the 50s give way to the 60s, about the drop in wheat prices and the continual thirst for water...so much to wonder about.
ReplyDelete