remembered Kegley
the tall happy farmer
as i drove past his farm
out in the country on Mason road
picked peaches and apples for him
in my youth
when an hour was a dollar
in the heat of the sun
he took off that day
for fishing and drinking
had hip boots on
when he backed his pickup
down the boat ramp
right into the river
the truck stalled
rolled back
filled with water
he waited too long
wasn’t thinking to give up
and get out
his best friend my dad was with him
and yelled warning
oh how they both yelled
and screamed and cursed
but Kegley was not a quitter,
never, damn it
tried hard to save the old truck
had it started then
he lost it
there in the brown moving water
along with his life
dad cried when he told me
had to tell his best friend’s wife
tears filled his eyes
only time I’d seen him cry
when a page turns like that
you can hardly look back
close the book on it
going over it
is pointless
as staring at the sun
Monday, November 09, 2009
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3 comments:
It is not pointless. It is a powerful, true story that reflects friendship that is love and love reflected in a son's account of his father. And I am happy you told it. Thank you Jack.
This is a sad one, but you give Kegley a life, the tall happy farmer who wouldn't quit. I like this line: "...when an hour was a dollar in the heat of the sun." It works with the tone of the poem, and helps to frame the time.
Kegley and my dad were like the legendary Big John and his sidekick. The two of them were quite a combination that could make a hell of a mess and laugh long and loud about it.
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