dreaming of oak

Oakley in his teepee, in his space suit with his uncle Bill.

Oak & Ritchie Rich

John wrote this for Oak




The Mighty Oak
By John Ciccariello © 2012


Thinking back, I saw you standing around.
Your back was straight as an arrow,
with you blond hair flowin' down.

Seems to me
it was only yesterday,
You told me “you'd see me later”,
and I told you “see you around”.....

After surgery, you looked
healthy and strong,
The sun was shining on you,
with your dreadlocks hangin' down.

Seems to me
it was only yesterday,
But I can remember your smile
like it happened today.....

           This damn disease
           leaves you standing all alone,
           with the knowledge of what could happen,
           salvation, throws you a bone.

           Back in town you stand,
           your callin' me for a ride,
           but I can't come to get you
           cause MY life and times is on the other side......

I think about you,
think of what I had to say,
the night that you were hurting,
and it wasn't right or wrong.

It seems to me,
it was only yesterday,
I asked you if you could stay,
but I told you “if you can't move-on”....

           This damn disease
           leaves you standing all alone,
           with the knowledge of what could happen,
           salvation, throws you a bone.

           Back in town you stand,
           your callin' me for a ride,
           but I can't come to get you
           cause YOUR life and times is on the other side......

--

John Ciccariello

1975

11 years ago..............................

Oak art

Halloween Oak

Oak and Bill and teepee

Babettes

Last summer

For Oakley 

Remembering what you said

I took the last remaining ear of sweet corn

From the dry cackling stalk

And sat down watching the bittersweet turn color

“we eat them right in the field,

never cook ‘em, way, way best that way”

you told me, the son teaching the father

after your last summer working the corn field

off Scuttle Hole Road

this temporal contiguity, not the least lost in this fleeing moment

nor the sun and cool rain in the kernels

no longer knowing if I am here

remembering you

or you are there remembering me