Wednesday, August 5, 2020

My Tribute to Arthur Bird

One ventured 'pon a moto ride

upon a cloudy day

the open road was straight ahead

the distant get away


Road by road one drove in stride

without a care in sight

when just ahead a storm cloud brew

and deluge fell with might


Diverted then the one did ride

and u-turn did he make

upon a road not seen before

the best that he might take


And venture down this unseen path

toward Georgia's county line

diversion of the falling rain

the trouble left behind


When once across the state bound mark

one noticed to his side

a graveyard in an open field

with headstones all in line


A venture there to see the marks

of those now come and gone

would be a rest for forlorn drink

of quenching thirst brought on


The swelt'ring heat did blast upon

the forehead one did rise

while squinting toward the heated sun

to shield one's blinded eyes


When all at once a white cabbed truck

pulled in the stone clad yard

One wondered at the site of him

twas he the sacred guard?


The crusty soul with jolly laugh

and deepened country slang

asked one his business quite thus there

above the corpse remains


A visit to the future spoke

the one with interest there

to mind the dash within his life

and ponder purpose clear


Upon which tale the crusty soul

invited one to see

the headstone of his long passed wife

the place her body be


While visit there three times to five

each day he mourned her side

and reminisced of marriage life

years sixty two aligned


His name there written beside hers

with photo in the midst

with only one date 'pon his stone

the other still amiss


An invite did he give to one

to sit upon his bench

that overlooked his dear bride's site

a comfort he entrenched


He spoke of corn and green bean vines

the peas within his fields

and shared of country dinner times

and foregone whiskey stills


And listened one to all his tales

till heat from bench dispersed

and both agreed to move from there

lest derriere hurt worse


The praying hands atop his stone

the cross above her side

gave interest to the one who watched

this grieving of his bride


“Were she a Christian?” one did ask

and waited for response

“Oh yes”, said he” the crusty one

with ne'r one nonchalance


But thee ole one who grieves his wife

one asked of his commit

“no, never did” he answered thus

did honestly admit


But there they'll lie you crusty one

down deep beneath your stone

and there you'll lay in constant state

abandoned and alone


Beneath your marks thou soon must lie

and some shall wonder then

did you but know the Savior's love

and give thy life to Him


This meeting with two men alone

within this destined yard

to tell him of a “Savior's” love

for even distant bard


And though the plan God's meeting there

did move his soul a bit

he turned his stubborn head aside

not ready to commit


But alas some future times

one road and spoke again

to hear the crusty one submit

and yield his life to Him


A visit two or more till last

the flowers seen afresh

and there the placard marked his death

above his lifeless flesh


And thou oh one who reads these words

a stone awaiteth you

wilt thou but know the Savior's love

eternal life for you


And crossing 'pon this graven writ

of Arthur Bird's demise

hast thou considered thine own fate

the dash within thy life


For once thou buried neath the sod

with headstone rose above

twill be the end of given choice

to know the Savior's love





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