And the Lord said, "There will be 10 word weavers, all in a row..." and so it was. Now, understand there is the first 8 and then the beautiful additions that came to my father. My father was a man of intense emotions, passion, commitment, respect, honor and a multitude of gifts, and I am not talking about the 10 children that danced around his table, but their children and their children's children. Yes, we are being fruitful and we are multiplying! Recently some of the crew joined together at the matriarch's home in Plainfield Illinois. She is mom. She willingly took on the first 8 blended her first born son and melded an additional with the help of my father, of course! Regardless of the degree of gene connection, we are family. My father shared his gifts with Nancy and she willingly said, YES! She is a woman that let's her yes mean YES, and her no mean NO! I want to share with you my siblings. Each one a gifted human! Each one endowed with an unbelievable capacity to stand strong in the storm and face this world with a passion that reflect my fathers. I see him standing on deck of a ship, a man before any one should be reference as a man, a man of only 17! Looking out over the ocean standing before a storm and wondering what all of this world really means. He came to fear the Lord that night, and he would never fear a storm again! We share his passion, his indignant spirit, we share his fiery eyes. We all possess the stare, convicition of that fight, most misunderstand the fire, but if you hold the Rapier wit, you have the Rapier eyes!

I kiss you on the head
never goodbye, only hello
the feel of flesh beneath my lips
tears stain my face
I trace the face, the lines
the map of many journeys
salt water stinging the face
dreams of youth sustained
through storms and loss
Word weaver
philosopher
watercolor memories attached
to canvas of steel
terra cotta moisture formed
in a potters hands
clay ten clay pots all
different
distinct
each with the fingerprint embedded
Renaissance man of ages
beginning with searches of copper
precious metals gave birth to pride
enabling a start in new shoes and britches
no stinkin' thinkin' for the lad
hands of strength and firm
first to pick up lead and begin
to record opinion and legacy passed on
Ten word weavers in tow