The Gem of Aberdeen

Hidden among the forsythias and the freesias,
the daffodils and the daisies,
and the pansies and the peonies,
are the paintings that draw you in,
and transport you
to that place beyond the horizon
where inspiration meets imagination
and mingles with meaning:
paintings of dreamscapes and seascapes,
sky scapes and dense woods,
sea creatures and forest features,
clam diggers and beach combers,
marshes and meadows,
daytime demons
and ghosts of the battle field.
And sitting on a step in stocking feet,
in a shirt splashed with reds and greens and blues,
is the gem of Aberdeen
who leaves his legacy
for walkers and talkers,
strollers and rollers,
and those moving slow enough
to meander and to wander,
to pause and to ponder
and come in off the sidewalk
long enough,
to be greeted by his smile.