"Mundane Morning" by Gene Hodge, Frequent Contributor & Poet of the Week

Song of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to introduce Gene Hodge as a new Frequent Contributor and Poet of the Week.  Gene's biography may be found on the "Our Staff" page.

Mundane Morning

Gene Hodge

Old man Fred

sits on his front porch,

sucks on a cigarette

and watches the passing day.

Nothing to do . . . but 

wallow in declining health

and die,

he scratches his unshaven face . . .

curses,

then turns to watch the L&N Train

two blocks away.

Driving by his house

I wave and blow my horn.

His stare follows me

up the street and around a curve.

As I top the hill

he appears beside me—

in thoughts.

I tell him . . . he’ll always be my friend

and how special his presence—

sitting on the porch— 

fills the emptiness of this mundane morning.

Poet’s Notes:  Fred is a man around whom I once worked and came to know.  I remember him much younger, healthy with dark hair—always jubilant.  He lives close by where I often run.  It used to thrill him to drive-up quietly behind me—while I was running—and blow his horn, then ask if I needed a ride.  A neighbor told me that Fred’s health was failing and he is now past driving.  Occasionally, I see him sitting on his front porch and I am filled with love and compassion.

Editor’s Note:  I enjoy the wistful mood Gene creates here as well as the way he plays with time.  The positive ending is poignant but uplifting.