I Still Owe Him One

For Chickening Out

On Our Race

“When I was younger,

I could remember anything,

Whether it happened or not.”

Mark Twain

Rummaging through old photos

I came upon this picture by the sea

It depicts my other brother Big Ed

Standing next to Little Ed – that’s me

As you can see I was a sharp dresser

I always liked wearing a spiffy little tie

My brother liked wearing potato sacks

Right now I really cannot remember why

But I do remember that he was a real big bully

He was always trying to shove my face in the dirt

But I would laugh loudly as I raced down the street

And he would yell, “Get back here, you Little Squirt!”

My brother Ed was also extremely mean to me

If he was able to catch me he would sit on my head

It seems like I spent my childhood under potato sacks

And I could hear jersey devil laughter from my brother Ed

My other brother Ed was also a very big tattletale

Always delighting in telling Mom what I had done

And he was usually rewarded with candy or ice cream

I remember never getting any which wasn’t very much fun

And I think it was shortly after this pic was taken

That I made my big plans to run away from home

Since my other brother Ed got all the yummy desserts

I decided life wasn’t very fair – I decided I needed to roam

As I finish writing this nostalgic poem about our childhood

I remember why my brother always wore an old potato sack

He was eating so much and growing so fast his clothes never fit

And these are my very fond memories of my brother Big Ed Matlack

“Now that I am much older,

I can still remember everything,

Whether it happened or not.”

Mr. Ed