Grandpa John

by JLR

~ A SALUTE ~ (Free Verse) ~ Contest Winner

His aged hands displayed the hard
times worn by blisters turned to callouses,
turned to hardened "leather-like" vice-grips,
when he would grab me by the shoulder
and shake me like the dickens, just for fun.

Whenever a neighbor happened by,
his deep-set sky-blue eyes, twinkled when he
doffed his dust covered felt hat and
slapped it against his multi-patched bibbed overalls,
while the dust motes swirled around his
sweat creased, sunbaked smiling face,

His supper prayers always spoken with such
positive assurance that His God provided
for his every means, while I sat watching,
and a waitin' ... he - making certain gramma
got her share of the vittles -- because he said,
"She were one that did all the heavy liftin'!"

His wake ... it came far too soon!
To this day I still feel I have lessons to learn
from a man that I never heard utter one
complaint. Never, did I hear a bad comment
or words spewed out in an angry tone ...
What I heard often as he would look in every direction,
even during the lingering hot days, just before harvest and
say, "Isn't it just a wonder ... just look around!"

I was eighteen when grandpa passed on ...
I stood man tall as I watched them --
ever so sacredly folded the flag into the symbolic tri-corned
shape -- thirteen times and then they laid that flag into my hand's.
Which I gripped vise-like and cried!

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Writing Prompt
~ POETRY ONLY ~ no prose
Compose a FREE VERSE ~ read ALL rules ~
*NOT BLIND
biographical may be you OR another person ~ NOT God or Jesus
*no pattern of end rhymes
*no vulgar, obscene, sexual terms ~ if used, then automatic disqualification
*one color font, one color background /one picture, if desired
no music, animation, videos
*author notes and ONE line of dedication may be used
* at least 5 entries before voting booth opened

~ A SALUTE ~ (Free Verse) ~
Contest Winner

Recognized

#56
April
2021

Free Verse, contest - biographical salute.

Note: Guards make crisp, precise folds a total of 13 times to complete the ceremony. Much like every other aspect of our nations greatest symbol, each of the 13 folds holds a special significance. visit:https://nationalflagfoundation.org/the-meaning-behind-the-13-folds-of-the-united-states-flag/

Thanks for the use of this photo camilo jimenez found on unsplash.

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Biographical Free Verse Salute

A chapter in the book Heart Crafted Poems -2021

Grandpa John

by JLR

~ A SALUTE ~ (Free Verse) ~ Contest Winner

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