UNCLE ELMO OUR "ROCK RUSTLER"

(dedicated to the memory of lewis elmo webster of san fernando, ca)

UNCLE ELMO OUR "ROCK RUSTLER"
(dedicated to the memory of lewis elmo webster of san fernando)

as children,
we gathered them along the river,
and in our ploughed fields...
pretty little pebbles,
shiny small nuggets,
all colors glowing, flash firing
caressed by sunlight...
oh how we loved them,
loaded them into our match box treasure chests,
played with them...
this piece of obsidian,
glowing black,
is a fine mustang stallion
and
the rose quartz crystal
his hs strawberry roan lead mare,
and this red and black jasper
a fine pinto indian pony
fit for a chief...
and this solid red stone a hereford bull
and the lace agate a black whiteface cow...
endless hours of playtime fun,
until
my uncle elmo came to visit...
he would eagerly look at all our semi precious stone pebble toys
and praise us for our discoveries,
funny...
after he went home
all the prettiest and best were gone, as well,
funnier still,
how years later i found them again
in a donated display
from my "uncle elmo"...
a part of the geologist collection
at the los angeles county museum...

Reviews

[dan]

I just reviewed FT's piece that this poem inspired in him. I think I grew up in the wrong place because your nature pieces are so inspired by the memories of your upbringing (as are FT's); my suburbanite childhood is not memorable in any nature-inspired way. The writing in this piece, the imagery flecked with bright colors and the metaphorical animals all combine with the beautiful photo to make this such a memorable write. I am saving this in my library favorites to savor over and over again. take care...dan

[sinNsincerity]

Great childhood memory, one I wish I could have lived. =D

[Cherry Pepperweb]

Little treasures, in more ways than one. Beautiful story jc. :)

[....................]

one child's play thing becomes a museum's gem :)...this is a great story, Jeannemarie... I played with periwinkles and kelp along the coves scattered throughout the village but I am pretty sure those 'gems' have long since disappeared except for the imprints they have left on the shelves of my mind...

thanks for sharing :)

[wordman]

so uncle elmo saw the importance of your collection and borrowed a few
i love the fact that you named them..

[Emily]

I love this poem!!
Vary creative idea!
Well done!!

[Perkele.7885]

Now, you can't blame a relative for making the family name famous in the scientific community, can you?