Thursday, December 6, 2018

Flyboy




image from pinterest.com


Flyboy

“Never have so many owed so much to so few.”
--Winston Churchill, after the Battle of Britain.

They buried a patriarch today,
a President, gentle man and great guy,
under somber clouds of Navy gray.

Walker’s Point now is a sad bay,
George H.W. Bush chose his time to die;
gentleness and dignity rule the day.

No sun breaks, not even a ray;
dress uniforms warmed my
heart, starched and blue as a jay.

Trump was absent, grumpy and fey
the day before, his signature scowl nigh
to perfection, with nothing to say.

George, warm as the Ides of May
in the arms of God, in a golden sky;
hallelujah, hosannas and hooray.

His aircraft carrier met him at the quay.
He flew his bomber into a brilliant sky,
his WWII plane bathed in heavenly rays,
as he lovingly waved hey--
for he had said all he wanted to say.



Glenn Buttkus

Villanelle

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub MTB

12 comments:

brudberg said...

Yes there is difference in how you do things... and never can the contrast be greater... it fells like an end of something, not sure I know if there's a beginning I want.

Jilly said...

Beautiful tribute; wonderfully done!

Frank Hubeny said...

Nice line of praise: "hallelujah, hosannas and hooray."

Unknown said...

What a lovely tribute to an honourable human being.

Jade Li said...

"He flew his bomber into a brilliant sky,
his WWII plane bathed in heavenly rays,"

this is a beautiful and poignant image

Kim M. Russell said...


Such a wonderful use of colour to set the scene, Glenn, with those ‘somber clouds of Navy grey’, the lack of sun and the repetitive ‘ay’ and ‘ie’ rhymes sound like sad sighs. I also like the contrast of a gentle, dignified patriot with grumpy, fey, scowling Trump in just a few lines – he only deserved one, if that!

rob kistner said...

A wonderful tribute to a fine man, and I seldom think of Republicans that way. He was a kinder and gentler man. Trump-zilla dif nit deserve to be at this man's farewell. His presence would have defiled it...

James Rainsford said...

A fine & sensitive tribute. Well crafted.

Linda Lee Lyberg said...

Wow- this is an excellent tribute Glenn.

purplepeninportland.com said...

A lovely tribute, Glenn. You brought forth his honor and gentleness.

Lona Gynt said...

Like any of us, he had his ups and downs. But I am grateful for him. He was obviously a political person, and he had missteps which we still live with today (thinking the divisive Willie Horton ads), but he had convictions to strive to do the right thing and I think he lifted the country. I miss him, God how I miss him. Nice tribute Glen

Margaret said...

Lovely!