© RH Peat/ 1/13/2011 3:54pm
Form: 6 stanzas. 20 lines
Narrative: recollections of youth.
Pushing At Memory Lane
Pushing At Memory Lane.
Personally, I grew up on sarcasm—
nothing but barbed intention.
"Listen, I want you do what I say
or get out! When I address you
I want to hear 'Yes sir'."
The old Marine sergeant never
gave up his 'Once a Marine
always a Marine' attitude.
"If I say 'jump' I want to see
you jump as high as you can!"
"If I say 'shit" I want you
to ask me what color: brown,
green, yellow, white or black;
and it if I say red, I want you
to bleed." But when it came
to spending a bit of money for
my education and well being
all the doors were unbolted.
"Don't become a pack-horse
like me," he said.
© RH Peat/ 1/13/2011 3:54pm
Form: 6 stanzas. 20 lines
A tough military regimen - but the closing lines say it all...Great write Ron, as usual
very brilliant writing...profound one
Enjoyable read on your youth. I know these fathers, I grew up in a military town and most all my friends were of military homes. Nice ending line.
What a wonderful poem, a small glimpse into your childhood, a picture of your father....who loved you well, you know ...and even gave you that wonderful gift of sarcasm, the hardest of all metaphors to be delivered properly! I can almost hear his voice through yours.