Dave

One of four, unique from all
with a kickstart gait,
glittering, sunrise eyes.
A briarwood pipe
clenched in tight, white teeth
spiraled cherry tobacco smoke
upward,
twining
through taffy curls.
Hard hands gripped a Garand
Across Korea.
Watched friends die.
Cried for his own soul.
Then time marched on.
With soft voice
he declared patriotic testimony,
whispered a father's prayer,
expressed a husband's love.
Devotion and adoration
bound him,
willinghearted,
to her, the wife of many years.
Years
measured not by clocks or calendars
but by a changing of the seasons.
Their hearts held hands.
He was short in stature, yet tall in honor.
Known only by a handful here,
He will cause millions to rejoice at his arrival.
We'll see you later, Dave.

E. Strain
12/14/1995
A tribute to my uncle, Elvin David Traver
To those of us who loved him he will be sorely missed