The Writer's Block Debuts

We have some very talented writers in our family, some of whom have even published a thing or two.

This feature will highlight some of their oeuvres and I hope you'll enjoy what you read.

The first work is a poem submitted by Jean Davie Fieg.  She writes, "Seems fitting for me to submit something concerning the founder of the FFN as a contribution to it, so here goes.  This was written in honor of Victor Philip Fieg's 56th birthday on April 23, 1980 and opens with a short preface."

Dear Philip,

Because the Hallmark Greeting Card Company
never heard of V.P. Fieg,
no commercial message, printed by machine,
and composed by some bright-eyed young/old thing
could ever
capture
the birthday wishes in the way your
birthday wishes should come
to be expressed, on this 56th birthday
so, here is a non-commercial message, from one of your loyal
sponsors, quote/unquote.

To the man
who built a stone wall,
set a chimney, or two,
sheetrocked a bedroom ceiling
in a two-hundred-year old tenant house,
   Happy Birthday!
   You survived.
To the man
who piloted planes
and ships,
   Happy Birthday,
   you sailed.
To the man
who put up fences;
some were cedar wood
shaped from living trees,
   you defined.
To the man who picked up litter
on an ocean beach and tossed empty beer cans
left by unschooled fisherfolk -
and tourists -
you showed faith.
To the man who built a deck
among the trees
and over a brooklet,
   you made beauty.
To the man who had choices
and chose to write
a book for children,
   congratulations,
you are necessary.
To the man
who learned the game of bridge
with pencil and paper
from televised instructions,
and sometimes
was a perfect partner.
   You adapt.
To the man
who thinks
nobody notices
when he planes down stuck doors,
oils hinges,
chops wood for lovely
cozy winterfires,
changes light bulbs,
solves basement leakages,
shovels snow with gritted teeth,
pays our bills,
kills bugs,
wants a nice lawn and works towards one,
fixes and mends,
creates and learns,
   Happy Birthday.
You see,
I have only touched on
the most obvious reasons
why you deserve
a happy birthday....
with so much left unwritten,
little wonder
the Hallmark
Greeting Card Company
does not attempt
specificities.

                Lavaciously yours,
                        Jean

(Thanks, Mom!)