B&W Autograph

His smile
Blunted and shunted off to the corner of a face
The eyes
Hooded, angry, pleading—
A cold Covington, LA winter day,
But Bright Sunny,
But not his smile;
Peacoat buttoned up,
Chin up,
Wondering—
Why was he caged in his playpen inside the chickenWireFence?
Years later they’d say it was to
Keep out the snakes,
But the trauma was past and present,
He had boldly wandered into realms beyond a childhood safe and simple,
In the Brownie black and white photo he kept,
To remember,
To hope,
To repair,
Kept for his own sake
And proof:
QED

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Fireflies Flitter

Fireflies flitter
Fireflies soar high
Some give their greetings
Others flash goodbye

Never saw a firefly
Ever lose a tear
Never knew a firefly
To pass on a frothy root beer

Once knew a firefly
On the fo’c’s’le of my boat
He flashed most determinedly
On the port sleeve of my peacoat:

The firefly had lost his damsel
To a flea cur from Balmooth;
Much darkening his dazzle—
A sad, poor lad, forsooth.

Years later said sad firefly
Had found his own true bonny lass
Fluttering about the far fields
Gracing at yon Isinglass

Happily flashed my firefly
Brightly from his bum
Now this damsel bonny
Is his kids dazzle Mum

Fireflies flitter
Fireflies soar high
Most give their greetings
The others flash your goodbye