"Autobiographies of great nations are written in three manuscripts – a book of deeds, a book of words, and a book of art. Of the three, I would choose the latter as truest testimony." - Sir Kenneth Smith, Great Civilisations

"I must write each day without fail, not so much for the success of the work, as in order not to get out of my routine." - Leo Tolstoy

I have never believed that one should wait until one is inspired because I think the pleasures of not writing are so great that if you ever start indulging them you will never write again. - John Updike

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations." - Lawrence Ferlinghetti


[Note - If any article requires updating or correction please notate this in the comment section. Thank you. - res]


Saturday, August 27, 2022

R.E. Slater - Of Grandsons & Grandparenting



LITTLE BOYS, DOGS AND CARS

by R.E. Slater

I'm not sure what it is about
little boys and dogs and cars
but they seem to go together
like ice cream and waffle cones,
like cold cereal and milk, like
puppy dog tails, sticks, and mud.

If you have grandsons as I do
you'll notice they take naturally
to laying on floors playing with
their trucks and toys, each
making their own noises,
going Brrrm, Brrrm, Brrrm.

And don't forget the family dog
who lays nearby drowsily listening 
with ears alert through sleepy lids
until they become a mountain,
a road valley, an obstacle to climb,
to hug and ride and drive upon.

When Grandpa goes for groceries
each little one wants to drive,
imagining exciting adventures
as they go Brrrm, Brrrm, Brrrm,
in the front seat happily steering,
with doggy seated behind them.

Too quickly these times fly by
as grandpa grows older and his
grandsons lose their num-num,
soon learn to play winter soccer,
forgetting their aging playmates,
eyeing the girls and growing up.

These are the days to remember,
to hug and hold tight; to lean into;
of getting down on the floor playing
alongside grandson and dog, going
Brrrm, Brrrm, Brrrm, down the
country lanes and o'er the far hills.


R.E. Slater
August 27, 2022;
edited September 22, 2022

@copyright R.E. Slater Publications
all rights reserved

* * * * * *



LITTLE BLESSINGS


I have little blessings,
   I count them one x three,
They travel in grandpa's arms
   Or upon his shoulders wide,
But it's all OK by him.

We duck wild'ing hanging branches,
   We learn to walk the fields,
I carry little blessings,
   Who are brightly learning,
To grow alongside of me.


R.E. Slater
August 27, 2022;
edited September 22, 2022

@copyright R.E. Slater Publications
all rights reserved

* * * * * *



BEHOLD! GOD'S MANY WONDERS!


Grandpa, Grandpa!

I hear my welcomed guests crying out,
excitedly running down the hallways,
hearing me call, following my voice,

"Over hear, over hear, over hear!"

with arms open wide, I gather
each little body in as best as I can,
squirming for a better seat,
and me, a better grip, as we
mash together to watch, or
listen, whatever I might have on,
uncaring just then my plans to
play baseball, bikes, or go upon
happy wilderness hikes!


R.E. Slater
August 27, 2022;
edited September 22, 2022

@copyright R.E. Slater Publications
all rights reserved

* * * * * *



RESTING UNDER A GREEN BROOK


Against a bluing sky
   a fawning, aging tree's
   green leaves tilt and flutter
As mirthless breezes
  whisper, Listen... Listen...
   hear what is unheard,
See what is unseen,
   smell my deep roots,
   planted wisdom's soils,
Rejoice! and be content.


R.E. Slater
August 27, 2022
edited September 22, 2022

@copyright R.E. Slater Publications
all rights reserved