Papa Sherwood
it’s been dark
out the window
thunder and lightning
since your daughter
called
and said the word:
hospice
home hospice
had to get off the phone
thought we made a deal
you promised
what happened
you’re 7 years short
of the deal
now your house
is flooded
the garden’s under
water
the birdfeeder just floated by
blueberries are bubbling up everywhere
your rose bushes are all a mess
your American Flag is soaking wet
now your tractor’s gonna rust
and your Christmas lights are shorted out
your camera lens got busted
your Velcro shoes are somewhere at the bottom
where your desk is
all the battery back-ups won’t charge
the locks have lost their keys
the keys have lost their locks
the grill just fell over
the crank to the ice cream bucket’s
gone
your coffee cups are in pieces
your postage stamps and envelopes
won’t stick
all your clothes in the closet
are too heavy for the hangers
your mailbox is up river
in someone else’s yard
your thermostat is set to heater
your watches and trinkets and gadgets
are scattered about
there’s no wind in your windmill
or footprints in the soil
the phone is off the hook
the table lost its setting
all the dishes fell out the cabinets
pictures missing out the frame
there’s debris everywhere
your house is spinning
off its axis
in Kansas now
with the cows
somebody left the gate
open …
go on then
your Mama’s calling
see your son waving
he’s been waitin
go on then
there’s your Daddy
coming up
on the horse
it’s ok
you can walk now
don’t need the cane
look at Frannie go !
she’s missed you so
go on then
Granny’ll be ok
you left her
in good hands
go on then
TL