Home

Hitch to his joy

by Glenn Currier

It was late and I had fished too long
the sun was setting fast
twilight bay singing its song
would the boat's old motor last?

Back toward home I sputtered
Would I beat the end of day?
Limping along I muttered,
"How will I find my way?"

And then a quiet came over me
and in that still I looked out.
Just ahead I could barely see
a man landing a speckled trout.

Hot dog! He shouted with zing.
Then he glimpsed my little craft.
In Cajun brogue: "Cher you like fishing
this bay like me, yeah!" he laughed.

I hitched my boat to his joy
then saw the smiling face
I've known since I was a boy
in that glad New Iberia place.

How many of us have hitched our vessel
to this man and felt the surge of his life,
and spoken to him when in a wrestle
with our problems and our strife?

Who of us have taken flight
as a passenger in his jet
or trusted him through our night
or...sat down with him to bet?

Have you been hooked
by a joke or a story or a listening ear
or eaten fresh fish he cooked,
drank the coldest wettest beer?

He manages to find a little more gas
and touch of humor in his steep hard climbs
Or exclaim "Kiss a fat man's ass"
in the fishless times.

In good stretches and bad
in calm of lake or fury of ocean
as husband and dad
he teaches devotion.

To family and friend
he shows us to love,
to respect, and to bend
to the Power above.

He knows how to hear
with compassion and kindness
to our letdown and fear
till we see our own blindness.

So let us all sail
and let us all carry
let the spirit prevail
of our dear precious Gary.

05/15/2012

Author's Note: I wrote this poem May 9, 2015 for my cousin Gary Reed who is having a real rough time in his battle with cancer. Gary has a great sense of humor and a few weeks ago he told me, "Glenn, I want you to write ME a poem while I am still above ground." He had read my poem, "Michael" (see toCreate.net) which I wrote for my nephew who died in January.

Posted on 05/16/2012
Copyright © 2024 Glenn Currier

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by George Hoerner on 05/16/12 at 12:43 PM

And a very nice write it is Glenn.

Posted by A. Paige White on 05/16/12 at 04:01 PM

"Cher, I like fishing this bay like him" too! Wonderful gift to your loved one.

Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 05/16/12 at 09:29 PM

I don't think anyone could ask for a better poem. Extraordinary.

Posted by LK Barrett on 05/17/12 at 11:49 AM

You are gifts to one another, and this shows it. Thank you for letting us share some of your time with Gary. lk

Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 05/19/12 at 12:46 AM

Honorable, insightful---considering the path we are all on. Delighted. Thanks.

Posted by Ken Harnisch on 05/21/12 at 12:44 PM

Just an elegant homily to Gary...he is blessed to have you there as his biographer-poet, Glenn

Posted by Laurie Blum on 05/23/12 at 03:09 PM

This is so full of colorful life moments that your reason for writing it touches me deeply. I often think that is what life is about, to share deeply of the beauty and joy in life and let everything else fade to nothing.

Posted by Sandy M. Humphrey on 05/24/12 at 09:29 PM

A wonderful tribute, a precious gift to give when there is nothing else to do, give someone a snapshot of how much they mean while still here, celebrate the good...that is why when I am gone I am going to be fireworks...I want my family to feel joy.

Posted by Carolyn Coville on 07/07/12 at 01:32 AM

Beautiful tribute, thanks so much for sharing with us!

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 07/04/16 at 07:14 PM

I hope Gary is still around to read this over and over. Good energy throughout this, Glenn. Thanks!

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.2 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 0 member(s) and 2 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2024 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)