POETRY
Downeast
Originally published in Atomic Flyswatter
Marry young and have your babies;
they’ll give you some sweet memories.
When they lay you under those trees,
that’s all you can take with you.
He lived his whole life Downeast,
trapping lobsters for the rich man’s feast.
A lifetime store of elbow grease —
that’s all you can take with you.
One day I’ll turn to dust within
this rocky shore where lie my kin.
The suit my boys will bury me in —
that’s all you can take with you.
When these bones are laid to rest,
they’ll place some flowers o’er my chest.
I’ll know that I have done my best.
That’s all you can take with you.
Marry young and have your babies;
they’ll give you some sweet memories.
When they lay you under those trees,
that’s all you can take with you.
Originally published in Atomic Flyswatter, 2020
