In the Armor Woods

In the Armor Woods

       for Murphy, Betty and Mike

Walking here today brings so much back,

such joy once had, so sad.

Old Murphy, kind sweet man, and Betty

Murphy’s feisty fun child-doting wife,

who loved our little grandson Gus,

loved his hair long, even at age three

and four. That’s just Gus! she said. 

Now, our preteen Gus has short hair,

bleached! Still sweet thank God

but not the little dumpling they once knew.

Murphy, Betty gone, the woods so fallen too.

This windfall must be walked around,

this nature going back to nature,

as it always wants to do.   

So young it seems now (in my early 60s then!)

no thought that everything would change this way.

But that’s just how life goes and goes and goes. 

It is all right. I must believe it so.

Choose happy or nostalgic sad.

My choice. Let’s smile and love

this day, this walk, this time of life.

Let’s live! This walk, this day—

they’re so much more than just all right!  

And as I rest on rock,

my feet in this eternal creek,

the clouds and sky and breeze

and waving trees are there.

Look down, look up. They’re

just what they’re supposed to be. 



June 23,2019

This beautiful woods-and-creek acreage behind our house—thanks to the heir, Mike Armor—is still ours to enjoy. I am deeply grateful!