The Letter

Be it ever so humble…

THE LETTER

 Dear Linda Lou, the letter said,

your dear old, faithful dog is dead,

and I hate to be the one,

to break the news.

*

Not much has happened, since you left town.

Oh, the first parish church burned down,

and they say it burned,

from spire to pews.

*

Your high school boyfriend, and cousin Ned,

went off to Massachusetts, and were wed.

They asked me to witness,

but I refused.

*

‘Cause you know, I don’t travel well,

and frankly darlin’, I couldn’t tell,

who was what,

and what, was who’s.

*

Oh, and on the day, your grandpa passed,

the final question, that he asked,

was had you sent the money,

he loaned you.

*

Well, we buried him on Jackson’s Hill,

you know the spot, right near the still.

‘Cause we know his spirit,

will guard, the mountain dew.

*

Oh, and Charlie Moore, who lives next door,

shocked everyone, at the general store.

When he walked in,

in a pair of gorgeous, high-heeled shoes.

*

It nearly, almost caused a scene,

when he insisted, on being, called Charlene.

And then he bought, a bra,

 and a thirty amp fuse.

 *

 Oh, and I hired a man to work the farm.

and on cold nights now, he keeps me warm.

Now my bed is more,

than just a place, to take a snooze.

*

I can’t believe, it’s been fourteen days,

since you packed up, and went away.

And why you left,

I still, ain’t got a clue.

*

But, just remember, where you come from.

And you’re always welcome, here on the farm.

I love you, and I miss you.

 Signed, your Mom.

 ***

 Jack Downing

Nov. 2008

Copyright©  Jack Downing, aka Jake @poemsandponderings.wordpress.com.  All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or disseminated in any manner without the expressed written consent of the author. JRD. 2/8/13