Their hobby horse carved from wood.
Upon metal frame and bouncy springs.
Kept our boys on the trail of good.
Rounding up outlaws and wild things.

Hot wheel cars and yards of plastic track,
racing from living room to kitchen.
They'd chase after their cars, then run back,
over and over, I should mention...

Tonka trucks and a pile of sand,
under the pear tree in our back yard.
Each one operated by little hands.
To get the boys outside, was never hard.

Forts made from sheets hung on the clothes line,
or in their bedroom if it would rain.
Turned an adventure out of lunchtime,
or "Boys Only" club when the girls came.

Blocks of wood cut different sizes and shapes,
dumped out onto their bedroom floor.
Became odd alien landscapes,
strewn from bunk beds to closet door.

Just an old ratty cardboard box.
Dented pan lid for a steering wheel.
No need for stereo or remote door locks,
as their first car, it was a steal.

So much fun, no batteries needed.
No computer generation.
Active minds cleverly seeded,
by two boys and their imagination.

The breath of life, in a poem,                  
                     comes with the first stroke of your pen.
      
Your heart and soul poured into it,
                     ink, the blood that flows within.

Imagery, becomes sinuous,
                     entwined with rhythm flowing.

Singing amongst your memories,
                     your emotions, overflowing.

Taking form, molded by your hand,
                     into an image on the page.

With depth of vision, to be shared,
                     spotlighted on the stage.

To be spoken and proudly shown,
                     or kept for your own collection.

Individual, unique art,
                     ones own personal reflection.

An echo of your breath,
softly sets upon my ear.
Lays within my very depths,
resonant words I can hear.

Softly, sets upon my ear,
the lyrics of our souls tune.
Resonant, words I can hear,
heartbeats join the gentle croon.

The lyrics of our souls tune,
sings of velvet bonds that bind.
Heartbeats join the gentle croon,
of a love that transcends time.

Sings, of velvet bonds that bind,
the essence of what we share.
Of a love that transcends time,
life has nothing to compare.

The essence of what we share,
lays within my very depths.
Life has nothing to compare,
an echo of your breath

So rare a soul, I found in you.
Grandpa, Dad.  To me you were both.
Salt of the earth, by those who knew,
you stood by your friends and your oaths.

My North Star, guiding my morals,
of fears, you were there to console.
Taught me life is color neutral.
Encouraged me to reach my goals.

Your heart, as big as all outdoors,
helping anybody in need.
Gave me the nudge, to learn to soar.
Your examples, planted the seeds.

Your one in a million, to me.
This world is less now, with you gone.
Of your counsel, I do still heed,
"Don't do it, if you think it's wrong."

With cooler nights and soft warm days.
quilts for the beds, days breeze welcome.
We say goodbye to summer's blaze.
Gold, orange and red are my Chrysanthemums,
as fall doggedly leaves the desert kingdom.

Soon will be gone, the light weight jackets.
Leaves, will finally, dance from the trees.
Goodbye to all the Farmer's Markets.
While I warm my hands round a cup of hot tea,
powdered sugar snow, in the hills I see.

The bird bath has a coat of ice,
small creatures go off and hibernate.
My home is redolent with baking spice,
red berries in the bushes, so ornate.
It's Winters time to dominate.

Cascading blooms on twisted vines,
wrap round the old lamp pole.
Reaching out to the night time sky,
to bare their petaled souls.
The lamp globe casts an ethereal glow,
through frosted, crackled glass.
The night moths flutter round the light,
perform a frenzied dance.

As clustered flowers drape the pole,
in a fragrant gown.
New, slender vines, twine bout the top,
like a leafy crown.
light winds caress the dew dropped blooms,
send their scent aloft.
Droplets, shimmer, as tiny jewels,
kiss, petals soft.

Blooms by day are as a rainbow,
arching against the sky.
By night, the shadows mix with hues,
baffling prying eyes.