"For Grandpa Tazzia" -- The Scottish Exodus -- Andrewdevenney.com

The Scottish Exodus

An advert image I put on the page and sent to friends and family in email.

A front page button. Don't recall what it linked to, but amusing nonetheless.

Our friend, Matt P. McCabe, who went to Scotland for same graduate program. This was his "stern" picture.

For Grandpa Tazzia, 9/19/00
St. Johns Hospital, Cardio-Pulminary Intensive Care Unit

Grandpa
I’m pleading with
the ghosts to take
You
before I go to Scotland
where I don’t know
the ghosts so well anymore
and they march at me
painted blue in the night
rolling their r’s
like my friends rolled
joints in high school

I can level with
the Syrian ghosts
dream up a fattousch
and placate them
with hummous but
how do I level
with a Scottish
ghost
how do I keep it
warm in my heart
I can’t gamble
with your soul
on foreign soil
it would be wrong
and I couldn’t claim
the guilt

I’ve been talking to
the uncles now and
letting a few have
their ways
I’ve been calling on
the aunts and they
aren’t listening
and the living
well—I gave up
hope a long time ago
I’m tired of crying
because that’s not
what will resurrect
You

If I’m away
I’ll wash your soul
down my throat
with a single malt sigh
and kick back again
into the streets that
arrest me with damp
I’ll sing like I’ve
packed a pistol like I’m
about to kill
the enemy
and I will release
You to the chambers
of my heart
where all the curtains
are red velvet
and all the ghosts
I’ve ever made
friends with
speak in tongues