Down Mangum Road

Down Mangum Road
1991 by Bud Lemire

 
It was the late seventies when I first met you
Dad and I were on a Marquette trip, so it was all new
I’ve heard your name mentioned a lot in my life
And knew you were a daughter from my Dad’s first wife

 Before long I felt a kinship starting to grow
Here was a sister I wanted to know
And with each trip to Marquette that we would take
I’d ask Dad if we were stopping to see Dottie and Jake

 If it wasn’t too late, we’d stop at your place
I can still picture your warm and friendly face
With the dog barking and the cat chasing a mouse
We looked at your garden, then stepped in the house

 My memories of those days don’t seem to fade
A special time in my life that your presence made
Your trips to Escanaba to visit us here
More special memories that I hold dear

 And so Dottie, I say unto you
Good luck in the future, whatever you do
With relatives like you, you’re a great friend
What more can I say, so I’ll make this…the end

  
This is a poem for my older sister from my Dad’s first marriage, Dottie. Her warm and caring ways over the years have helped us to become closer. She has my Dad’s eyes, and I am always reminded of him when I look at her. But I am also reminded of the bond of love that we have shared over the years. Thank you Dottie, and Jake!