Poem 206: Jack

Every morning I take my daily walk

Head up the same street on this old city block

Continue my course with the leash in hand

I felt there was something missing that I didn’t understand

I’ve lived at this house now twenty years or more

There was something lacking that I couldn’t seem to ignore

This routine seemed to have something that I seemed to lack

Then realization finally kicked in and it was “JACK”!!!

You see, no matter what time of morning when I walked by

If Jack was around, he would always yell hi!!

He actually wasn’t yelling, it was his normal tone

Sometimes he would startle me, and I wear headphones!

Spring was his favourite time of the year

That’s when he would put his gardening expertise into gear

He loved his flowers and he cared for his lawn

It’s so hard to believe that this man is gone

He was a friend to everyone who lives on this street

He was someone who was always a pleasure to meet

He had a sense of humour and would help you in any way

In summer you would find him outside for the entire day

He’d putter in his garden and gave free advice

Let’s just make it simple, this man was nice!

Jack was a  person that his whole neighbourhood knew

It’s so sad that his time on this earth is now through

The cancer finally took him, but he put up a fight

I figured he would defeat it once again and come out alright

He battled this demon right to the end

This man to so many, was a true friend

There is a “for sale” sign now on his lawn where he lived most of his life

Raised his six children with “Elsie” his wife

There will come someone who will eventually occupy this space

There is certainly no one who will be able to take his place!