-Shake, Rattle 'n Roll-

1.

The Parkinson’s was degenerative, causing havoc

To Uncle Armand’s central nervous system.

As his body shook involuntarily

Armand displayed a slight, although continual,

And some might say, disturbing smile across his mouth;

Disturbing because his eyes weren't smiling.
Above the grin, Armand had the eyes of a Hollywood
B-movie slasher.

I was too young to feel anything

Beyond the pressing desire to leave the house ––

To venture outside, out there,—
Crossing the street to the park, joining
The ranks of my own kind.

These were the weekly visits
To the gallery of Armand's exhibition
Inside my father's house at 1017 Bedford.
Alma, Armand's wife, would assist his movements,
Plopping him on the couch in front of the television.

It was as if the bell for recess rang for Alma,
The time for her to walk freely, to converse
With others from room to room, –– to laugh a little.
  
There was no need to warm it up because
At our house the television was always
Tuned-in and warmed to perfection.
Our couch was the mother-load for Auntie Alma.

2.
There’s a lot of information

To sort through when the day begins.
If diligence is applied a foundation may develop.

But with Armand I don't recall much of anything

Save his involuntary presence, those eyes and
That mysterious smile cutting across his jittering face,
A smile not even the undertaker could wipe away.

3.
Now at the stream of stories to be told
Comes this violation into Uncle Armand's nothingness.

But I raise my early morning cup to say herein:
Alma, this one's for you.

Quequechan, c. 1951 / 1953