Wednesday, October 11, 2006

A Hoot Owl Hoots

I remember him sitting
with his head in his hand,
glued to a Formica countertop,
smoking Kool Menthols, slicing through
the blue-grey boredom to make change.
He hated that hardware store,
being a fixture in a block box;
the key turned at seven in the morning,
not again ‘til six at night.
It provided the electric fryer
with drumsticks and breasts, but
his preference was fresh caught fish.
The south Georgia swamps,
rivers, and Cypress knees
hold the memories of his steps.
A hoot owl hoots
in the silence of his sleep.

22 comments:

MB said...

This is a very nicely rendered portrait, Pat. I like the Cypress knees holding his steps. Conjures up memories of mirror black waters. And there's nothing like fresh fish!!

jel said...

the thought of a man trying to make a living , and in his sleep dreams of his childhood days!


this one is a hoot! :)


have a great day!

Kai said...

nice

floots said...

a great piece
both tribute and portrait
thank you

Margie said...

Wonderful poem Pat!
Such a nice portrait and tribute!
Loved it!

Anonymous said...

Very evocative!

polona said...

ah... wonderful, pat!

Anonymous said...

i enjoyed the imagery in this, Pat.

Anonymous said...

fantastic! how i remember those kool menthols ... first brand i ever smoked (stole it from mom when i was a kid).

Masago said...

Wow, what a tribute. Marvelously rendered.

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

pure poetry --- my grandpa smoked Kool Menthols and I swear I can still smell it. :)

C... said...

Stifled freedom. What we all suffer.

Russell Ragsdale said...

What a clear picture, Pat. This was just beautiful! (Sorry for the loss.)

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

A hoot indeed. Thanks White Owl Pat.

Pat Paulk said...

Thank you Mary Beth!! This is a poem for my Dad, who died March of last year. He truly loved the woods, and fishing.

Jel, thank you!!

Thanks Kai!!

Thanks Floots!! Old man was my hero.

Thank you Margie!!

Thank you Joyce!! He evoked alot out of me over many years. Most of it love.

Thank you Ruthanne!!

Thank you Polona!!

Thank you Juan Matus!! Kools were too strong for me. I was a Benson & Hedges man.

Thank you Vaughn!!

Thank you Andrew!! I wonder if they're still made?

C, prisoners of our wants and needs.

Thanks Russell!! It was a year ago this past March, but I think about him alot.

Thanks Don!! A cigar man??

gautami tripathy said...

How can write so beautifully about everyday stuff?

Simply amazing...

BTW, weren't you supposed to visit India?

Pat Paulk said...

Gautami, thank you!! I would love to visit India.

Tongue in Cheek Antiques said...

I enjoy your style of writing, honest, brut like but tender masculine with ginger and vanilla.
Hoots in his sleep...calls him in his dreams!

Pris said...

I love this, Pat...so movingly rendered.

dsnake1 said...

a beautiful portrait.
love this poem, reminds me about my dad too, simple but tough.

Amalendu said...

a lovely portrait...

Unknown said...

I am doing my catching up reading tonight and loved strolling across this one first. Great images. Funny how just one word like hoot owl... well guess that is two... can evoke so much magic and music and reaching for what once was.