My uncle’s laugh held

The husky sublime

He leaned close to whisper

Taking great time,

“There ain’t nothin’ in this world, dear,

Worth a dime, ‘cept for

Old dogs, children, and watermelon wine.”

He had his grandchildren, glint

And rheumy kind eyes

He had his three vices and asked,

What were mine?

Cumulus kings behind polarized glasses

That newlywed waitresses’ cooed-over ring

Realizing no reason to run in warm rain, and

Those same address-raindrops on the letter

Arrived safely sound

Southern hospitality’s molar-wide smile and

The sunlight that drips from its lips - becoming

Feeble dandelions in sidewalk cracks

Soft sidewalk cracks are just chinks in the armor

Of my cloying and bittersweet vices