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Words In Reply to Horace's Ode, 3.30
Conversation, today, turned to the future of
one of my grandchildren, whose academic
skillset, even at this early age, seems unusually
developed, observant, and articulate.
I am proud of all seven of them, but---
given the medically difficult situation in which
I have found myself, I gave in to reveries
that distracted me, a bit, from my troubles.
I saw any one of my grandchildren as a
university professor, holder of the Ph.D.,
explaining to gathered students---"My 'Pa'
(so I am designated---one of the kinder
epithets applied to me among the "kinfolk")
"would have been proud to hear my lectures,
"and to know that I chair the department.
"I have his books---Vergil and Dante;
"Claudel, George Sand and Daniel Stern
"(though Americans disparage them);
"Eliot, Stevens, and the inimitable Patriciajj"(the name of my forthcoming monograph), and
"the grandeur of her work we will begin
"to study during the next semester.
"The spiritual centerpieces of my personal library are
"Pa's copy of the Bible, his most precious possession,
"the textbooks he studied---Biblical Greek,
"amateur cosmology, and ancient history;
"and the manuscripts of his own poems.
"All these I remember from my childhood,
"when they were full of mysteries to me;
"most of which I do not understand, but
"I understand what they meant to him because
"he never tired of telling me about them."
This is an address I imagine as given
by one of my grandchildren, before a class
of underclass students---some of them indifferent---
or perhaps some graduate students,
already worried about elaborate dissertations
and the oral defense of their theses before committees.
Then, perhaps, that grandchild will, after class,
obtain a bouquet of flowers and drive to some
rural cemetery to the marker---not very gaudy---
that identifies the place where my body decomposes,
my soul being absent and therefore present with the Lord.
And the inscription that bears my mundane name and dates
will present also that truer appellation I have preferred
to sign to my poetry and a testimony
to my faith's direction---the spiritual epithet, perhaps in boldfacescript
over and above the designation imposed by laws and bullies' laughter.
Starward
I'm seeing it! What a
I'm seeing it! What a rapturous and very believable reverie, (Was pleasantly surprised by my cameo. You're so kind. Thank you!) given that your grandchildren certainly inherited your intellect and appreciation for literature, but most importantly, your devout knowledge of the Word.
No doubt the grandchild will cherish this legacy of creativity, wisdom and spiritual devotion, and, knowing he or she is watched from above, will bring more than a few bouquets to the resting place of one very memorable soul who rests beyond the stars.
Enchanting work.
Thank you very much. If my
Thank you very much. If my grandchildren ever start reading poetry, I will direct them toward yours.
Starward