42.

Just Around the Bend

(Fred Houk Jr., 1951–2007)

No wood thrush sang.

No flute-like notes.

No angel descended.

No golden chords.

No words spoken.

Just another Sunday afternoon.

Just me and Fred and three dogs.

Just unanticipated bone fragments

rough-textured between fingertips.

Just talc-like powder suspended

momentarily over shade-dappled

water in the glade up around

the bend in the path you can

see from our kitchen window.

Just another Sunday afternoon.

No thrush…no angel.

Just around the bend.

No words…no tears.

Just me and Fred and

three dogs and the

sound of water.

Oh he was a friend of mine

…a friend of mine…

never done no harm.

never done no wrong.

He died too young

…died too young…

& I can’t be satisfied

for he was a friend of mine.

Done no harm.

Done no wrong.

Died too young.

When I heard this song

I stole…I stole away & cried

for he was a friend of mine

& I can not be satisfied.