Wonderful Gary,I know I am just a cheerleader to a lot of you but I can not
help it.
Carol S
----- Original Message -----
From: "garydawg" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2001 11:37 AM
Subject: New: Stones


> Stones (for Janis)
>
> As a child,
> I tossed stones over
> the pond on the far side of the south pasture,
> Washington with a dirty face -
> dollar bills across the Delaware,
> Sergeant Rock with a runny nose -
> rockets across the DMV,
> General Grant in short pants -
> messages by pigeon from Shilo.
> a small boy
> throwing rocks across a muddy water hole.
>
> And older,
> I skipped stones
> on the lake a short hike north of town,
> flat rocks best
> for 3 hops,
> 4,
> even 5
> to impress Rosie,
> visiting from West Virginia with her Aunt Ora,
> but if I skipped 4,
> Rosie could do 5,
> always one more
> until she got bored and went for a swim
> in her underwear,
> a skinny boy
> who could not swim left on the shore.
>
> And older,
> hand in hand with Judy,
> I collected stones
> on the shore of Dogfish Bay,
> spiral designs,
> mica flakes,
> red and brown agates
> with salmon, bear and elk
> captured on their surface
> to sit with tea-cups and cut glass,
> be our worry stone,
> hold doors open,
> gather dust in an unused fountain,
> and remind me
> of when I was a skinny boy
> and walked
> hand in hand with Judy
> before I become an old man
> too tired to gather the rocks
> and place them on Judy's grave
> where they really belong.
>
> And elderly,
> I kick stones
> down the driveway in my slippers
> on the way to get the mail,
> a skinny boy trapped inside,
> still skipping stones across a pond.
>
>
> November with Janet from Oz at:
http://gardawg.homestead.com/homestead.html,
>
> Submissions: http://www.writershood.com/index.html
>
> Poets for Peace.  ¡Poemas sí, balas no!