Aaron's Poem

It is a beautiful, cool, blustery day here in Maine. While we support the cast of the Out of Towners, I will post an old poem I had been looking for previously, thereby continuing my record of late-blobing.

The photo is Amina and Gertie on the couch.



Aaron's Poem

Throughout the Summer the questions came.

"Granddaddy is sick
and I am sad" said my son.
He then cried.

Who will feed the hummingbirds
at Granddaddy's house?" he asked.
Before I could answer his tears had started.

"What will happen to the Osprey
on Granddaddy's island?" he questioned
with great concern and sobs.

"Will the beaver come back
to Granddaddy's brook" he demanded.
What will happen to the fish then?
Will the tadpoles still be there?"

"When will Granddaddy leave the hospital
and go back home," he asked
in a quiet voice, no longer
quite daring to cry.

I was not able to answer,
afraid to say he may never go home.
Afraid the concerns of an almost
five year old boy would not allow him
to understand and forgive his beloved
Grandfather.

The next morning while still dark
as the long ride home began,
my son listened to the news
he did not want to know.

I was concerned how my son would react.
I could not take away his sadness
and hurt.
I could not take away his tears.
I could not take away my own.

At the end of the day
my son came to me and asked
where he could place a letter
so the wind would take it
to his Grandfather.
He missed him
and wanted to tell him
he loved him.

SP 1992

Belated 4th

Now that it is August it is only fitting that I tell of my fourth of July. Every year, a friend and fellow bicycle collector has a fourth of July parade with wild and well crazy bikes. Exactly at noon, or whenever the doors open Brendan unveils his latest creation. See picture above (or below depending on my blogger abilities.) It's not a great picture but there is a dancing monkey on the front and a twirling rubber chicken that passes through the jars of an alligator in the back. Brendan always does a great job.

A great time was had by all and following the parade was a BBQ and games. The highlight was the regional finals of the IBSR (International Belt Sander Races). I am sorry to say I forgot to record the names of the entrants but they wonderful (The Beltinator?) For your enjoyment, I present a picture of the Races

Afterwards at LLBean's Summer Music series I met up with Pierre, Shelia and some others to see the Robert Cray Band (insert photo here, hopefully) The Bean's Music series is a free series held out on the lawn at their flagship store. It use to be a very low key thing where you could come and sit and enjoy great music. As you can see, people have figured out there is some great music to be had and it has grown. Tonight, for example, I'm going to see Arlo Guthrie.

The music and company were great but we were constantly threated with rain. A little fell during the music but mostly held off. Afterwards I saddles up the motorcycle for a quick escape right after the fireworks. The rain still held off. The sparks hit the sky in all the requisite patterns and as the smoke cleared from the finale I roared off into the night and was IMMEDIATELY hit with a WALL of rain. A forty minutes later I arrived back home, throughly drenched, for what is normally a twenty five minute drive. I should have soaped up.