RECKONIN'
  • Features
    • Book Bench
    • Charlottesville
    • COVID Commentary
    • Dixie These Days
    • Links
    • Magnolia Muse
    • Matters of Faith
    • Movie Room
    • Southern History
    • Writing Contest 2022
  • Contributors
    • Full List
    • Mark Atkins
    • Al Benson
    • Carolina Contrarian
    • Enoch Cade
    • Boyd Cathey
    • Dissident Mama
    • Ted Ehmann
    • Walt Garlington
    • Gail Jarvis
    • Gene Kizer, Jr.
    • Neil Kumar
    • Perrin Lovett
    • Ilana Mercer
    • Tom Riley
    • H.V. Traywick, Jr.
    • Clyde Wilson
  • Contact
  • Features
    • Book Bench
    • Charlottesville
    • COVID Commentary
    • Dixie These Days
    • Links
    • Magnolia Muse
    • Matters of Faith
    • Movie Room
    • Southern History
    • Writing Contest 2022
  • Contributors
    • Full List
    • Mark Atkins
    • Al Benson
    • Carolina Contrarian
    • Enoch Cade
    • Boyd Cathey
    • Dissident Mama
    • Ted Ehmann
    • Walt Garlington
    • Gail Jarvis
    • Gene Kizer, Jr.
    • Neil Kumar
    • Perrin Lovett
    • Ilana Mercer
    • Tom Riley
    • H.V. Traywick, Jr.
    • Clyde Wilson
  • Contact

Walt Garlington

The Harden Ranch

12/5/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture

November’s cold has come round again
But no more family gatherings
Will be held at the Harden home.
Time has taken a heavy toll.

No more will we hear Aunt Jackie’s
Joyful laughter rippling from her smiling
Lips. No more will we see the calm
Serenity of Uncle Lance’s face.
​
The gruff silence of Uncle Ken could be
Intimidating, but more shy was he
Than stern. Aunt Norine was our never-
Tiring hostess, ever-busy
With the kitchen and endless laundry.

Granddad Art and Claire, his Yankee second wife,
Could be awkward, but we loved them all-alike.

Cousins of every age filled their hollow legs
With mounds of lemon squares and pumpkin bread
And enjoyed the boisterousness of youth.

Before Great Grandmother Garlington, our heads
Each we bowed, by age and virtue consecrated.

Outside, a cold wind blew in the dry grass.
New pecans, pressed together in the palm,
Yielded their meat for our food as we walked
Quietly along, gifts of the naked
Limbs suspended above us. And the bristling
Half-wolf Riggs gave us all a frightening
Greeting when we returned to the ranch.

Youthful days are gone; many kin have passed.
The Harden house is mostly empty now.
And the soul begins to think more
Of reunion in the heavenly home
Than of memories of meetings past.
2 Comments
Vicki G
12/6/2021 03:34:44 am

Wonderful memories of Harden ranch..
Thanks for reminding us Walt..
Well done!!

Reply
Ellen
12/6/2021 09:48:53 pm

Walt, this is amazing. Those are memories I hold dear to my heart, and you captured them so well.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Walt Garlington is a chemical engineer turned writer (and, when able, a planter). He makes his home in Louisiana and is editor of the 'Confiteri: A Southern Perspective' web site.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019

Proudly powered by Weebly