Josh and My Sittin' and Spittin' Spot
This poem depicts the close relationship between a Father and his son based on the Father’s memories of a special long ago period in his life. There really is a “Josh” and I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the “Josh and My Sittin’ and Spittin’ Spot” several times listening to the sweet memories of Josh’s Father, Richard Zuspan, as he related the comfortable bonding between him and his son in that long ago but fondly remembered era. During that time, the Father chewed tobacco, hence, the “spittin” part of the poem. Today Josh has a son about the age he was when there was this special “Sittin’ and Spittin’ Spot”. Josh doesn’t “chew” and lives far away but the bond between him and his own son is just as solid as the one between Josh and his Father during his young years in that very special place. With just a few word revisions, the poem should fit well into each of the many Zuspan generations yet to follow.
Close to the road into the woods
Where we’d talk of fools and hoods,
Watch for crickets and listen to cars
Was a place that we called ours.
Talking manly things tween Father and son,
Planning the future and fishing for fun,
Aptly describes this tree dimmed plot,
One that will always be my favorite lot.
That’s Josh and my sittin’ and spittin’ spot.
The years pass by but there time waits
For memories of closeness never a waste.
Closeness between generations found,
Wisdom passed both up and down.
Lessons I learned from a young thinking lad
Brightened the old cobby thoughts I had.
Formed a bond never broken or even pulled taut
And laid groundwork for generations yet thought.
That’s Josh and my sittin’ and spittin’ spot.
Kathleen Struckle
Great writing Ginger.
A. JILL GAEBEL
I’m with Kathleen…that’s a great homey and well written poem. Very good!
Ginger Lovellette replied
Hi Jill. Thanks very much. That spot was made special because Richard and Josh’s Mom were divorced and when Richard would travel to their home which was some distance, he would bring Josh back home with him and they would always stop at this same spot and sit and talk out there in the woods while Richard chewed and “spit” and Josh played in the nearby stream and chased frogs and such and brought his Dad up to date on the latest events in his young life. They would stop at the same spot on the return trip home. I was fortunate enough to be with both of them years later as our travels happened to take us past that very same spot. It was a delight to hear the two of them reminiscence.