A Family Affair

“Well … Winston,”
Said Randolph, his father
In obvious pain.
“You all … ready
To join … the military?”

“Of course, father,
There’s nothing better
I shall be grander
Than our great ancestor
The Duke of Malborough”

“That’s … the spirit,”
Said Randolph, wiping traces of spittle
From his upper lip,
And staggering a bit.
“You know,
I had hoped to put on a better show
As a young sprite like thee
When I should be forty-three.”

“You’re wonderful
Father.
I love you.
I’ve always loved you.”

“Just like … your mother
She says … I’m her
Dream lover!”

“I’ve never heard you say that before,
Father.”

“Well … you’re
Getting older ….
Remember
What I … always told you?
How to be a General
Like the Duke … of Malborough?

“Yes, Father.”

“Know the terrain
You win the game
Make the rules
You cannot lose!”

An exquisite perfume
Wafts into the room
A lady most fair
A perfect coiffure
Like magic appears.

“And how are my generals?”
Jennie Churchill inquires.

“At the service
Of our commander-in-chief”
Says Winston, bowing deeply.
“Shall you be spending the day
With us today
Mother?
“Well, you know, Winston, your Father
Is not very well today,”
Says she, adjusting carefully
Her fine jewelry.
“He does tire, so easily
These days.
And I have so many
Duties
To attend to.”

Well, mother, attend to your duties then,"
Says Winston
Resigned to seek another source of fun,
And turns to this brother and cousin.

“I have designed a game,”
Says he.
“The rules are plain
enough, you’ll see.
It’s called hunters and deer.
You’re the hunters, I’m the deer
The hunters stalk the deer
They try to block his path
Running through field and forest.
If you catch me you win
I must stay clear to the end.”

And so the boys at play
Running all the day
Till, at last, a bridge
Over a mountain ridge
Seems to seal Winston’s fate
How can he escape?

“They’re on either end,”
He thinks
“But I can jump into the ravine.
Those trees are soft enough, it seems
I’ll land all safe amidst the leaves.”

And so he flies into the air
And wakes up in a doctor’s care.

“I won!”
Says Winston
“I won the game.
Despite the fear, despite the pain
I made the rules
I won the game.”


© Copyright Jerome Raymond Kraus 2006