The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

PLEASE publish this birthday poem that I wrote for my oldest brother, Duke Bradley Smith.

Duke B Smith,

is 80 today

long march here

from March 1, 1941

how is he different

what has he lost

since the days of his

prime

time has altered

and has changed

his body and his mind

not as agile, as nimble,

as quick as he once was when he was sprite-like, like an acrobat,

able to leap off ceiling and to leap off walls lapsed into tranquility

now,

his steps drag, his thoughts slow,

his voice low recognition of those whom he knows well is delayed,

requiring patience, requiring to be accommodated

as he is now

the present

present

no other is available to be unwrapped, unpackaged

or loved

only in the present

is there air to breathe.

OBEDIAH SMITH

Nassau, March 1, 2021.