George, being silly, hanging out with little bro, Bill circa 1990.
call it
sorrow
sadness
his quick grin at a family story
memory scenes flashing by
memory on overtime these days after
more properly
call it
grief pain
just call it
what it is
loss
always so gentle to life
so much Indiana here now
Greene county talking back
mother here, too, all around
she was here first
put my face in the open binding
of a left-over Hoosier history book
inhaled, like an old Indiana library
look under 977.242
he took us to his favorite place names
call it
everything we need
right now
he smiles, looks up to see a visitor at the door
the blue wool blanket wraps his thin legs
I didn’t know
I had this much Indiana in me
this much left-over sadness
he’s expectant for a good long family visit
before his supper
Bill Hoke 12-15-2020
Thank you so much for this! I can see it all.
I can see this. Vivid writing. Filled with warmth and love. Thanks.
He was a great big brother! (And dad, uncle, grandad, friend….) Love and hugs!