I Wish I'd Written That...

I just got a copy of a poem that my cousin wrote for his Uncle who was killed last week while at work. It passed my personal test of good lit when I read it and said, "Dang. I wish I'd written that." The boy might not have any skill at picking NCAA tournament games, but he's got some verse locked up in his dome for sure.


Uncle RJ


I'll never forget all those warm summer nights,
that followed the days of cold water fights.
Or the man at the center of every one,
my dad's older brother, gramps oldest son.

You could see that big smile all over his face
as his Harley pulled up to visit our place.
And it wasn't to long before he got hold of you,
and each of us knew what we had to do.

We cried,
Mercy, mercy Uncle J,
I think that’s all I can handle today,
I'll be ready for more when you come back again
but until then, I love you my friend.

I have never felt pain like I did on the day
that I learned from my sister he had been taken away.
I fell to my knees and begged the Lord please,
don't let him be gone without one final tease.

I thought of my aunt and my cousins too,
My heart swells with love and sorrow for you.

As we carried his body aloft in the air
past the uniformed brothers and sister all there.
I thought of the times he held me in the air
and tossed me higher than any would dare.

With a mind full of memories and soul of unrest,
I removed the flower that was pinned to my chest.
I placed it back on top of the box dyed tan,
near the truest of banners "The most Wonderful Man"

And I cried,
Mercy, mercy Uncle J,
I think that’s all I can handle today
You'll be waiting for me when I come back again
but until then, I love you my friend.

Mark David Walker
May 2010