Townes is playing
he's fingerpicking a Martin
under a sequoia tree
he yells out: "this one's called red wine blues"
Jack laughs
hoists up two jugs
and takes a healthy slug
and passes it to his young wife
more people arrive
walking up the winding path
Gord, Stephen, John, Benjamin...
and many more
some are holding cases of Labbatt
over their heads
then dumping them into
troughs of ice
Gary wanders down
from his mountain shack
he'd been up there cooking
all afternoon
huge pots of chili
we start to spoon it out
two California girls
top the bowls
with shredded cheese
everything shimmers...fades
a robin starts to sing out
into the dawn
a crow joins in
a final ethereal glimpse
of Gary smiling
This sounds wonderful. You took me back into a dream of yesterday.........love the idea of shredded cheese on chili. My next bowl will be so blessed!
ReplyDeleteReading this again, I note that Gary is smiling in the sky, and that you have gathered to celebrate his life. It sounds like a fine way to see him on his way.
ReplyDeleteMaster work, my friend. I hoist a jug to life!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun and lively gathering! A bowl of Gary's chili sounds really good right now.
ReplyDeleteA lovely memory and so well depicted.
ReplyDeleteOh, you put me right there in amongst it!
ReplyDeleteRemembering - the precious memories are what help us cope with loss... beautifully rendered.
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ReplyDeleteThis has to be the most rockin', jumpin', lovin', celebratory "send off" a human is going to have! Gary had to be amazing as well. Your poem has my head spinning ~ in a good way.
Yes, great memories never fade and these a very well captured.
ReplyDeleteA perfect day... How delightful.
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