Image by Joseph Cosby | Asking For Help
We kept him there among
the apples
In the root cellar
That winter
Because the root cellar
Was cold
But not freezing cold.
Kept him there
Among the apples
Until Spring
The winter soil
Too frozen
For a burial
Our Daddy.
Me and Little Sister
I’m Raymond
It was our job
To turn him
Once a day
Keep him fresh
Among the apples
Until the melting time
When he could
Be buried at the Church
The Words spoken
Daddy.
Uncle Raymond came by
I was named for
Uncle Raymond
Daddy’s younger brother.
Tall, Black haired
Played the fiddle
Played the cards
Drank the liquor
Came by now
All the time for
Supper
Stayed late.
Came by now
To console Mother
Late into the night
Past our bedtime
Me and Little Sister
While Mama
Cried
Cried in a
Strange and savage
Way that was almost
Like a laugh.
Hands over
Little Sister’s ears
When Mama’s crylaugh
Got too loud
Four hands
God, I needed
Four hands.
That winter
That awful winter
The winter of
The frozen ground
Uncle Raymond
Dropping by
Bringing a chicken
Now and then
For Mama to cook
That freezing winter
The root cellar
Down the dark stairs
Me and Little Sister
Remembering now
The old times
Remembering
Uncle Raymond
Little Sister
Daddy
Mama
Mama.
Just me left
No wife
No kids
Just me
Remembering
The winter I stopped
Eating apples.
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