Friday, April 3, 2026

Doodle land


 Doodle Land

Johnclarestokes


Can I find the place

the boys memory traces

beneath the creaking steps

where the doodle bug slept

til time for slipping slant in

sand the wandering ant

swatting yellow flies feeding

them to the ants soldiering 

not wandering from the well

marked line where larvae dwell

to emerge to choose the single

file or the cool dark dwelling

of the doodles wild.

Can I find the time 

the boy held the line

to mark the row where

the acre peas would grow

with the old dego hoe

keeping at bay the weeds

imaging himself a Yellow Jacket

halfback like Walt defeating Sneads

to hear a father call him back

from the field of dreams to the task

of making this earthly garden the

best this Wakulla soil ever knew.

Can I dwell for just a spell

to trace again that sweet smell

wafting from the off plum line kitchen

of morning bacon and pancakes

waking the boy on the top bunk

awaiting the call so he could jump

to dress and load the brown vest

with the four ten shells 

to fell the chattering bushy tails

down by the old drainage pond

the aroma of spent shot heavenly

to a boy always hungry for

the wonders doodle land could bring.

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