The Stars of Del Mar

by Robert Halleck

I was sitting in the park
at the end of 15th Street
holding my mail and
looking at the stars. He sat
beside me.  I told him about
this star, that star, and
did you see, did you know
how far and how you
could not get lost.
That's North and yes
that's the Big Dipper and
yes the moon is full
and here is why.

He thanked me
and got up.

Crossing the tracks
to the other park,
he lay in the grass
and looked up enjoying
the silence, my ignorance,
the stars for what they are.

LISTEN TO THE SILENCE

by Robert Halleck

Things exist without words.
A dog's footprint.
Blue sky.
Ice plant by the path.
Spring sunset.
The way silence
Listens to silence.

EXCAVATION

 by Robert Halleck

 

A wise dog lets the leash go slack.

So, what am I thinking?

Hope you can't tell. 

Keep talking. Everyone digs a hole.
I just put the shovel

where you can find it.

ANCESTOR WORSHIP

by Robert Halleck

It's Saturday.
I'm going to the antique shop
to buy relatives.
Granddad went to college
Colby, class of 1910.
Few of his kind did.
Old photo, hard to see. He's the one
back row on the ledge
before sailing to WW 1.

Wedding Day. Grandma in white
Here's the boat they took that night.
Stock certificates from companies he sold.
Rotary president's pin
golf club trophy.
Quite a guy. I'm very proud
of the family I'm in.