History of a Town

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“…for whom history was

walking through dead grass,

and the main things that

happened were miles and

the time of day…”

—William Stafford,

“Prairie Town,” Rescuing

Some Years in Kansas

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Jiving the Elders—

It doesn’t work anymore

They know too much about

Life in Kansas…

Especially the men—

My two stoic gaunt

Grandfathers who I

Once knew back then…

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Walter the calm—

Cool Santa Fe man

Working down there

By the railroad tracks…

Later John Deere—

Dealer of combines

Tractors and Farm

Equipment…

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Long term—

County Commissioner

Smoking cigars and

Making deals…

Down on Sixth—

With all the Big Shot

Small-town smooth

Wheeler-dealers…

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Until one day—

He had a heart-attack

At the Poker Table in

The Country Courthouse…

From then on—

A recluse just sitting

There in his empty

Office at home…

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He didn’t go to

Church anymore…

With Jenny, me

And my brother…

No need anymore—

To keep up the

Façade of being

Wheeler-Dealer

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Jenny G. A. R Queen—

Civil War daughter

Living out her Union

Family fantasy…

Dark evenings—

Her RFD garden…

Snap-dragons tulips

Twilight wisteria…

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My grandmothers—

The Movers & Shakers…

The ones who kept

Both Families going…

Theresa up North—

Republic County…

Teacher & County

Commissioner

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Natural-born Leaders—

Eleanor Roosevelt types…

Endeared to how many

Generations of kids?

Arthur like Walter—

Moody withdrawn…

Gothic Americana

Kansas Republicans…

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Done in by the—

Depression droughts

The usual Thirties

Nightmare stuff…

He’d given up—

Like Walter letting go…

His wife doing all the

Heavy Lifting…

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It takes Work—

To keep families

And homes going

That’s for sure…

And there I was—

Grandson of the Border…

Fourth generation

Kid of the Plains…

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Old enough then—

To know I knew

Back then what

I don’t know now?

Doodlebug—

Be good to be…

Naïve and Happy

Emporia evenings…

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Elm-shaded streets—

Peter Pan Park and

Growing up then in

Eisenhower ‘50s…

No time to jive now—

Not to myself anymore…

Because times change

I’m the Elder now…