I just returned from a trip with my family to the mountains, and yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the reunion of my wife’s family.  The following was inspired by those two events.

Point of clarification: the cornbread, as well as all of the food, was outstanding.

there’s a fly on the cornbread
and bees in the tea
the chicken’s getting cold

but it don’t matter

the wind has a chill
the sun ain’t been shining
it’s looking like rain

but it don’t matter

.

photographs on paper
memories that are leaving
we talk about what we knew
and laugh with little grieving

we share a cup of coffee
make plans for our tomorrow
we bring our families with us
and know that love will follow

.

weary from the journey
too tired to do the hike
we just want to sit a spell

but it don’t matter

we tell the same old stories
and add some new ones, too
the conversation is light

but it don’t matter

.

photographs on paper
memories that are leaving
we talk about what we knew
and laugh with little grieving

we share a cup of coffee
make plans for our tomorrow
we bring our families with us
and know that love will follow

.

a brother or an uncle
a sister or an aunt
it’s hard to keep them straight

but it don’t matter

be it birth or be it marriage
they bring us in the fold
to share the food and time together

cause that’s what really matters

.

photographs on paper
memories that are leaving
we talk about what we knew
and laugh with little grieving

we share a cup of coffee
make plans for our tomorrow
we bring our families with us
and know that love will follow

copyright 2016, joseph e bird