At Bud's Bedside

Bud Gillette, age 88,
seen here at his 87th birthday party
holding a Navy flag he got.

Bedside watch begins.
Much-loved shell of man who's led
his family all these years,
surviving war, an almost-fatal accident,
struggles with Yankees and other
personal demons. Hard worker
with no patience for those
who do enough to just get by.
Married close to 70 years, he
calls her "Pretty" even now,
when he's strong enough,
awake enough to speak.
Blind and bent he's spent
his life outside. Terrorizing
gators on the island as a boy,
a lie to serve his country,
part of history on the open sea.
Hammering nails, sailing ships,
watering the grass, positioned at
the fence to get the best view
of his grandsons playing ball.
One of them went on before--
perhaps he's standing watch
at heaven's gate right now
to welcome Grandpa home.


(c) Ellen Gillette, 2013