Thalia Cem., Thalia TX (Larry McMurtry country) Click to enlarge |
I was at my best,
if my-self only vaguely,
heard him approaching,
– we spoke of the Dodgers,
of listening to the radio, Vin Scully
in the rear
view –
I spoke of feed ranches and cattle,
of cow-boying, steering, branding in Thalia and then in
Pomona, where in-close the boy and I did live –
as nearly close as now on me he stands,
above me, in my ear, nearly,
his feet ground-ing –
trowel-ing, over-turning the mud
as if to un-irrigate the worms –
no, my Grand-son, the dear boy, is not yet up to sustaining
the long-distance narrative of my death
– it still is too early and too close to the bone
in the rear
view
we spoke of extending, yet –
yet, I entreated him to leave
he, at his pace
to that place at the stone,
where enough said is enough said
– now, let him be with
him-self,
if even uneasily
if my-self only vaguely,
heard him approaching,
– we spoke of the Dodgers,
of listening to the radio, Vin Scully
in the rear
view –
I spoke of feed ranches and cattle,
of cow-boying, steering, branding in Thalia and then in
Pomona, where in-close the boy and I did live –
as nearly close as now on me he stands,
above me, in my ear, nearly,
his feet ground-ing –
trowel-ing, over-turning the mud
as if to un-irrigate the worms –
no, my Grand-son, the dear boy, is not yet up to sustaining
the long-distance narrative of my death
– it still is too early and too close to the bone
in the rear
view
we spoke of extending, yet –
yet, I entreated him to leave
he, at his pace
to that place at the stone,
where enough said is enough said
– now, let him be with
him-self,
if even uneasily