A cycle of freeverse poems written for/about my Grandpa Robert L Stevenson during his final days, and in the wake of his death as i reflected about our adventures together.
Of all my relations, i am perhaps the most like him in many ways: we loved roadtrips, foreign travel, good conversations and stories, and wearing glasses.
Company in the free verse are a variety of photos of him and me and other bids which remind me of this remarkable man who clicked off 67 countries and 80 something years.
Download and print your own if so inclined. Enjoy.
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I've Held the Globe – A Poetry Cycle for Ole Dead Gramps
1. A Cycle for Dear Ole Gramps
by
Dave Olson (1987-2007)
Preamble
Earliest Recollections
Lansing Michigan, 1973
eating macaroni & cheese
in a damp basement
while adults whispered
windows shivered
radio crackled
and i wondered why
the tornado was coming
and then my memory began
Moving, Forward
I’ve held the Globe
I’ve held the globe
thread for vapor trails
of journeys
each color a route
pinned from Greece to Kenya
or St John’s Bay
is that Israel or Syria?
A blue loop with stops at
20 pins circumnavigates
a memory of connections
meals with colleagues
6. just to confuse the birds
Just, Moving (Roadtrip, circa 1987)
The Smallest Town
the smallest town possible
Sublett Idaho
(or Utah?)
no matter
i've been there twice
Ranch Exit
V1
Ranch exit Oh de Oh
O'er the pass we gonna roll
'nigh services up ahead
just us and trucks
rounding the bend
C
Dropping in and shifing down
half past Snowville by 10 oh 5
would stop for pie
if the town were open
but shuttered down
so we keep on rolling
V2
Ranch Exit Hi di hoh
mother trucker swerving solo
slow on down ya great big loader
bailout lane is
right there for ya
V3
Ranch Exit Low de doh
diggin the starshine show
riding green and rolling low