Decoration

It’s coming up on Decoration already,
But I swear it has been more winter
Than Spring this turn. Sarvice and Redbud
Has kept the faith though and I am right 
Sure the weeds and vines has plumb took
Graves, along with the stones and markers. 

Orville’s grave is new and the stone not yet set.
Tom, the stone man is spending his scarce breath
To carve his name. So it is time for me to be about taking
Taking care of Orville with the others now passed,
As strange as that seems. It just don’t fit the tongue yet. 

The kids has been slipping down to Ethel’s
Making them crepe paper flowers. Not a 
Word out of them, they’s scared it’ll just
Start more tears, late suppers and silences. 
It is way past time for me to do better bt them.

Packing a basket is a good thing for Decoration,
Kids love a picnic, and it’ll give us a chance
To look toward something instead of always back. 
Mommy and Aunt Sudie are sure to go. They 
Never miss a day with our passed on kin. 

Might ought to ask Minnie Howard and the kids. 
Their daddy is gone, too. But there’s no grave
Or stone. His grave marker is Black Mountain,
Easy to find, but a heavy burden for his skinny
Bones now crushed into the very coal he worked. 

Decoration is good, I know it’ll make me cry some,
But remembering is the most we have now, refusing
To look back on the good, would most likely force
Us to draw up into a stub, no good for anyone. How
Would that please Orville? It plain would not. 

So bring it on, picnic basket, flowers and grubbing hoe. 
We aim to honor them gone ones, and find all their good
There was to laugh about and love them and be glad. 
The heart may bleed some, but I swear I’ll smile
For them kids and tomorrow and their hope. 

K. Bruce Florence 
June 29, 2016 

17 thoughts on “Decoration

  1. Rae Cobbs

    Another zinger. Beautiful.

    “Would that please Orville? It plain would not.

    So bring it on, picnic basket, flowers and grubbing hoe.”

    Favorite lines, but it all is working. Terrific strength. Line breaks and shortened phrases, along with the shadow of rhyme are very strong (force/How/not/hoe/good/glad/hope)!

    Reply
    1. Bruce Florence

      Thank you for reading my ‘Dorcas’ poems. Your comments have been so encouraging. Dorcas is not through yet. She is still working through her situation and she whispers a line to me now and then so I can explain to the world what her world was like all those many years ago.

      Bruce Florence

      Reply
  2. debcoo

    This is beautiful Bruce. “It just don’t fit the tongue yet.” I think is my favorite line. It still hurts my heart tho to read these…

    Reply
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