THREE CUPS, CREAM AND SUGAR

THREE CUPS, CREAM AND SUGAR

                for Gilbert Chandler

We watched Old Yakima

transform itself, and turning 80,

you become our premier elder-historian,

and I salute that, thanking you

for two cottonwood walking sticks

carved by you for Karen and I

during Covid-19 social-distancing.

We sit out back looking at the stick,

remembering river banks, walking

with old trees nobody notices.

Roman Numerals: MMXX.

Your knife. When I call and ask,

you say, Whittling on a stick.

We don't hardly have cream any more

but I smile when you say,

Cream and sugar, for coffee.

Thick cream, too, leftover from rhubarb

cobbler. Handing you the jam

we remember our mother's rhubarb

and weep openly. I hand you

Miles' Tribute to Jack Johnson

with two 25-minute songs:

Listen to the drums. 2020.

Black Lives Matter. Keep walking.

Pay attention to Yesternow.

Love, Jim

23 June 2020