My late paternal grandfather
culled from nondescript birthplace
Wherein Philadelphia
an urbane olde European-like city yet and base
For this poetic vignette,
which specific details I lack, thus will use lace
In the form of digital bitty bytes to affect how
Said hand sum man World War I veteran
Briefly characterized within this space
Drawing on opaque memories in tandem
with tidbits impossible to chase
With authenticity, yet he thee
aforementioned father o’ me papa carved with grace
Elaborate chair facades replete
With patented Doric columnar curlicues in case
A reader might reckon to espy his imprimatur,
Reflections sans two halves of the same wooden face
In silhouette if stared under aegis of Rorschach test,
This image imagination will trace
Drawing one to envision this craftsman
engrossed in whittling to erase
Any evidence whence once proud sassy tree
preceded becoming timber so human race
Could situate this gluteus maximus
snug as a plant potted in a vase.
