I’m currently reading a collection of short stories by one of my favorite authors, Kurt Vonnegut, so thought I’d post something I wrote earlier last year.
Kurt often recalls lovingly his Uncle Alex, so this poem and song are for Uncle Alex and his elegant world-view.
To Kurt’s Uncle Alex
A glass of beer in the afternoon.
Sitting in the shade of a wide old tree*
Taking in the music
And the hum that’s in the air.
Listen
There are some noises: a rooster in the distance,
A car horn, the birds chirping to one other in the trees,
The sound of the dog’s paws as he ambles across the porch.
As Uncle Alex would say,
“If this isn’t nice, what is?”
To Kurt’s Uncle Alex, a “hat’s off”
A bow, a polite bow.
In thanks.
In gratitude.
What more can we do, Alex
As we move on?
Thank you Alex
And regards and all the best to your nephew Kurt
******************************
*A paraphrase from Up a Lazy River, by Hoagie Carmichael – also a native of Kurt’s home state of Indiana.
An Occasional Story 
The photo and music and words are great, they all go together perfectly!
Thank you. Here’s to Uncle Alex!
A big hurrah for Kurt, Uncle Alex and Bumba’s singing!
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I do love Kurt Vonnegut. Thanks for visiting.
Aww, that sounded very nice. lovely words too.
playing your piano your voice is sounding a little bit like Tom Waits, dear Steve! Kurt (R.I.P.) would applause for sure!
“If this isn’t nice, what is?”. Have to agree 😀
Vonnegut wrote so simply that the connections are easy with his words.. Loved this post and I love front porches!!
I just googled Kurt Vonnegut and saw there already is a fan club. Also, I found a funny video on U Tube called the shape of stories.
Very nice, Stephen. Love the piano. I bet Kurt Vonnegut would enjoy this. 🙂
From up in heaven!
Yes! Perhaps he heard it. 🙂
I agree with Letizia! Great tribute!
Thank you, Marina
lovely tribute to uncle alex – am a fan of vonnegut’s too 🙂
Thank you. Glad to meet a Vonnegut fan.
I love an old front porch with a bunch of rocking chairs. Does anybody really sit out on a front porch in the evening anymore?
I come from the Bronx and we didn’t have porches, but everyone was out on the street, on the benches, on the stoops. We enjoyed what we had – which still a good way to go.
Some peek over the fence at their neighbors once in a while. 🙂
Probably to tell the dog to shut up. 😦
I really am fortunate where I live. Beautiful neighbors and friendly deer.