SANFORD "BUD" SPECK-1901-1964
ST. CHARLES 1928-REVISITED

DAPPER SANFORD OR DASHING "BUD"

YOUR PICTURE IS OF SOMEONE MY MIND
NEVER CONJURED UP

PREENING ON ICY STEPS,
SO RELAXED IN SHINED BLACK SHOES.

YOUR FASHIONABLE HAT ALMOST DWARFS
A TINY, BOY FACE

HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS
FULL OF MONEY, RARING TO BE SPENT

YOU ARE READY FOR REVELRY AND ROMANCE
IN YOUR SUNDAY BLACK SUIT

MONEY, LIQUOR, WOMEN AND INDEPENDANCE,
REPLACED WITH

DEBTS, MILK, A WIFE, AND TIES TO
RESPONSIBILITY

GOOD OL' DADDY OR ELUSIVE PAPAW SPECK

YOU TOILED TO FEED YOUR BRIDE, AND ONE
BY ONE, EIGHT OFFSPRING

MANY MORE DEPENDED ON
20 YEARS OF DAILY MAIL DELIVERIES

I ONLY KNEW YOU THROUGH THEIR SCATTERED
MEMORIES AND A CASKET PHOTO

NOW I KNOW WE BOTH HAD A LIFE,
BEFORE WE GAVE IN.