Playing Fair and Being Kind

This one needs another viewing, in my humble opinion…

MEN’S GROUP

A gathering – like an assemblage of wary and watchful

Bison,

Large forms – studied movement,

An economy of motion and comment,

A language not too vague

Or too obvious,

We speak with silence – side

Looks – talk of heating oil,

Stove pellets, air leaks, and

Wind chill

So much private knowledge passes

In monosyllabic recognition,

Old men arriving like Bedouins

In from the desert – traveling forever,

Over dunes and distance,

Slowly,

Purposefully, methodically shaking garments, robes

Covered in dust of quiet grief –

“I’m here but I need

A

Moment – I need all

Of me to arrive,

(pause)

O.K… now I am here”,

One after another – like

The Presidential Range seen

From Route 2 – silent, stately,

Hulking – lining up on

Chairs and sofa – finding a

Place to settle, squat – find comfort in

A vantage point from which to

See and hear the others –

Eyes searching,

Recognizing

Greatness,

Honoring those present,

“I know you” like a code

Passed by stealthy visual salutation

They come to honor survivors of

Risks,

Escapes,

They come to give witness,

Bear witness,

To bathe in

Grief and glory – say to these men

Your truth and celebrate them as they feed

At this board piled high with tale

Upon story upon wisdom –

“Fill up, Boys!!! Fill up – “,

These heroes are building

Castles and

Palaces of

Pride and Love

Together.

G. M. Goodwin
February 19, 2013