Granpa Morgan & the Mallards

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RC Langill
Member

since 2008-03-09

Posts 104

0 posted 2010-04-18 10:24 PM

         Grandpa Morgan
And the Mud Puddle Mallards
      Of Beaverton Oregon

It's wet. It's always wet this time of year.
But this year is different,
There's ducks, ducks everywhere you look,
In every ditch,
    Pond,
        Puddle,
            Or flooded field,
Any place with three inches of water
Has at least two ducks.

The ducks have descended
And claimed all this wetness,
Confident, unruffled, and indifferent,
Indifferent even to this line of people
Standing in the rain, waiting for the bus,
As they sit in a ditch,
Scarcely a foot away.

And they are indifferent to my sadness.
Seeing them makes me sad
Because I have no one I can tell,
No one who'd be interested.
Channel Two News would hardly headline
"DUCKS FOUND IN WATER . . .
Details at eleven"

But if I could still write to Grandpa Morgan,
He would care,
He would find it interesting,
And he would draft his reply,
Crafted in his Copperplate cursive,
And he would take the letter,
And fold it,
And put it in an envelope,
And write my name on the front,
      Turning it into a work of art,
      Something to be treasured.

But not a scrap remains to me now.
So I am sad
While the ducks are indifferent
As they sit in the ditch,
Scarcely a foot away.

RC Langill author of Simple Feelings & Deep Passions romantic poems from a real romance

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

1 posted 2010-04-19 04:32 PM

Oh, I LLLLLLOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEE this!  I am sure Grandpa Morgan read it over your shoulder as you typed, and I am sure he smiled.

You made a 64-year old woman smile, despite my gut-wrenching sorrow at being without my horse and my dog.  Four months and 1 day ago, my 14½ year old doggy joined my horse who went to Heaven at the age of 37½, nearly 8 years ago (8 years ago on the Wednesday after next).

And you DO have somebody to tell - all of us here in Pip.  There are many, many animal/bird lovers here.

Owl

Andrew Scott
Member Elite

since 1999-06-24

Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA

2 posted 2010-04-19 06:34 PM

Your grandfather sounds a lot like mine. It's been many years since his passing, but every time I pick up a chess piece he is right there with me. I miss the games and their companionable silence. I enjoyed the way this one flowed in thought and structure.

"We'll chase them like rats across the tundra."

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

3 posted 2010-04-19 08:37 PM

But if I could still write to Grandpa Morgan,
He would care,
He would find it interesting,
And he would draft his reply,
Crafted in his Copperplate cursive,
And he would take the letter,
And fold it,
And put it in an envelope,
And write my name on the front,
Turning it into a work of art,
Something to be treasured.

~*~

RC....

I have a granddaughter who shares
your grandfather's name...
...I adhere to cursive writing....
I know memories.

This is...priceless.

Grandpa knows.

God Bless his love of you; your memory of him.

steavenr
Member Elite

since 2003-11-17

Posts 4058

4 posted 2010-04-20 11:45 AM

Everybody needs a Grandpa Morgan in his/her life to help battle the feelings of lonliness now and then...a captivating write that drew me in and caused me to want to stay...thorougly enjoyed

Huan Yi
Member Ascendant

since 2004-10-12

Posts 6688
Waukegan

5 posted 2010-04-20 03:53 PM

.

This is very good.

John

.

Earl Brinkman
Senior Member

since 2010-03-03

Posts 1183
Osaka, Japan

6 posted 2010-04-20 10:32 PM

I cannot deny the richness of the words nor the feelings of asquiescence that pervade this piece.

RC Langill
Member

since 2008-03-09

Posts 104

7 posted 2010-04-21 12:05 PM

Thank you for sharing your responses. I'm glad that this remembrance connects with memories of your own loved ones. These are sad and important feelings.

The spring flooded with ducks and my sense of loss occurred years ago. I held on to the moment and the feeling until I felt it was time to write about it. Thank you for letting me know that this was the right time.

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

8 posted 2010-04-21 02:31 AM

I care RC. This is the Oregon I remember. The rather damp and beautiful memory of my childhood.
Ida

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