- Keith Banner
Elegy
our neighbor died
a couple days ago
total gentleman,
83,
he always reminded me of
a kindhearted sidekick
in a 50s western
you know
the guy who stays
when everyone leaves
like loyalty is
built into his blood
stubbornly dedicated
to what he needs to do
mowed the lawn
like it was his destiny
kind to all kinds
of animals most people fear
ground hogs,
raccoons, skunks
he fed
them from his patio
and he always
was up for taking care of
sophie our cat
when we went on vacation
he talked about sophie
like she was a human
sophie
tickled him
and he was
gentle with her,
totally
loyal to her
we always got him
a cracker barrel
gift card
for doing it
that was always
part of the end of a trip
getting that
for him
the simplest little
stupid things
grow into elegies
like weeds
and right now
thinking of his stubborn face
as he rides
that riding lawnmower
and then takes a shower
and goes to
cracker barrel
for dinner
with that card
