What I would write on a postcard from Lake Michigan in fall...
had a fine pine time
with the evergreen queen
and the fir campfire
prettiest ever seen
went a walkin' we
amid the spruce and loon
sung us a juniper jolly
Michigander tune
waved to the seagulls
in squadrons on the beach
to weather out the storm
in perfect formation, each
nibbled wintergreen berries
that taste of Clark's gum
us TV age kids don't know
the fruit came first, by gum
we went inside a teepee
that Mr. Edlund made
Whitey was his name
makin wood stuff was his trade
collected flotsom bits and bobs
from God and from man
the good stuff was God's
the litter was from man
got me a nice rock
wanted some black sand
but with rock and a feather
it wouldn't fit in my hand
he wouldn't carry it
though his pockets were deep
I don't blame him
it probably wouldn't keep
fine, inky silica
of quartz and hematite
mining waste he said
I call it magic magnetite
He did carry home
some driftwood we found
small for the rock shelf
the big on the ground
climbed the dune staircase
then a quick rest to take
watched from a bench
our melted glacier lake
more fine Whitey products
what a good soul was he
but then I recalled how
he and grampa fooled me
Had me pee over the bench
when I had to go potty
said it was a special toilet (!)
grama said they were both dotty
(But then she stayed home and would not have wanted to use the woods "convenience" if she had come and wouldn't have known where to take me either. So I guess all's well that ends with relief. Grampa was severely chastised by me when I caught on. But in truth, I'd not have had a better idea. Ah such are memories. Dear God why do those honeyed arugula aches still glow so dull and strong? And I wouldn't write this next on a postcard.
while benched, we wondered
about Ice Age and Indian
did they walk our same trails
these native folk back when?
talked of ships big and small
boats being favorites of mine
of frigates, canoes and Chris Craft
a Greatest of Lakes timeline
one subject led to another
as talks with your Opi should do
so much to say, so little time
I think our grandkids get this too
Who's Opi? It's gramp and Omi
is grama in Dutch (that's me!)
we're all important branches
this thing called family tree!
I call my grandparents theirs (the grands)
and list the greats so they can see
that who is who has a place
in their own special history
I know mine would like being
known as their great Opi and Omi
when my next gen ask why
I say cuz it's YOUR family
But back to my bench (toilet)
so many moons ago
to bring then and now full circle
so that they will all know
I'm 61 now (how did that happen)
I want them to meet little me
when I was still sitting (maybe not that part)
and peeing over my bit of tree
I want to take them all back
all 12 of them if they could but see
how joyous it was for us then
God, I can't even make me see
(key change sexy riff)
It's an Irish thing to be lavish
and I'd give all I owned
to be with Omi and Opi (OG)
does nothing else rhyme but stoned??
and it really doesn't matter
cuz they'd scoff at the expense
they couldn't imagine how I'd give
life's wages to see them past tense
He liked how we pondered
for a few footsteps in time
we were part of that great march
of mankind and maritime.
And grama plays her part
in my longing for yore
it hurts so much that I
can hardly bear to open that door
(Is this a retake on Carrickfergus?? Jesus, I can hear that damn Van Morrison version playing as I read this. No wonder they added the line about needing a drink! It fits! Hallelujah I'm Irish, pass the booze. The only part I resonate with. Not really. Why did I say that? I hate that they're called Irish Car Bombs. Bobby Sands??? Pour me another. So less Irish than originally TOLD BY 23andme. But hey, never believed the stats anyway. How could a girl with one Irish granda on the distaff side be 43%, yeah, no. Unless that girl's Dutch relative somewhere...no too tired to figure that one out. Wait till you hear what 23andme says about my Andulsian and Maltese roots after amending their stats in some long headed nonsense I don't understand. NOW I'm not 43% but only 20% Irish WITH Scots and Welsh WTactual? Well easy Eire easy go. And I like being mostly Netherlander anyway, so, where were we? Sorry... this part is serious and you should be too.)
I've only just managed to
hush my O's during sleep
their dear sweet voices calling
nearly sent me over the deep
Such a lost little girl was I
so lonesome, lonely and alone
they were my world my all
theirs was the only home
Jesus it hurts so much to recall
the sucker punch sweet by and by
I could easily drown in memory
it wouldn't be the worst way to die
But I won't because I remember
that I'm a wife, mom and Omi too
and I owe to all my loved ones
our days in Lake Michigan blue
So let's pause to raise a glass
to the Opis and Omis gone before
thank you for the wonderful days
putting our footprints on the shore
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