Rick's Poetry: Lunch - May 5, 2001

Lunch
(c) May 5, 2001

Two sparrows by my park bench
waiting for a crumb
They watch me eat my sandwich
look for a morsel they can bum

I am not a rich man
I've not a lot to spare
Why can't they go a hunting
and find a worm to share

I work hard for what I have
I can't feed the poor
They must think I'm easy
and open welfare door

They're giving me four sad eyes
and a little chirp
They do look sorta thin
just pecking 'round the dirt

Now they're hopping closer
they must be feeling bold
These are not the timid birds
I knew in days gone old

They are right below me now
between my two big feet
looking up expectantly
patient for a treat

I really must give in now
try not to be so rude
I will share my lunch with them
because they're so darn cute

by Ricky D. McKean

Rick McKean (1962-2011)

Rick McKean graduated a track star from Capital High School in Boise, Idaho. After serving in the U.S. Navy with the construction batallion and operating heavy machinery, and time in abroad in Guam, Rick was honorably discharged and took residence in Oxnard, California, near the naval base.

After working several years in various trades, including light aircraft maintenance, locksmith and auto repair, Rick worked for a paper pulp recycling plant in Oxnard until the late 90s. Expressing his love for the ocean, and despite physical limitations, he took up scuba diving and enjoyed good times with friends exploring the Channel Islands off the Ventura coastline. Rick suffered from depression and alcoholism.

The poetry on this site was written in 2001-2002 while an inmate at California Correctional Facility, Salinas, California. After parole, Rick again took residence in Oxnard, purchased a boat, and lived on the water in Channel Islands Harbor. Continuing his appreciation of nature and the environment, Rick worked in harbor maintenance, patrolling the harbor and collecting/dislodging debris that had washed in from sea.

Rick continued to live on his boat and attend AA meetings and treatment programs, and eventually was issued a driver's license and bought a car. In 2010, he drove his car to his home state of Idaho and visited his family whom he had not seen in many years. Despite numerous physicial limitations, Rick continued to live his life to the fullest extent, including handling nearly all of the maintnenance of his boat/home.

In late 2010, Rick bought a new computer, with the intention to publish these poems online. In January of 2011, Rick suffered an untimely death where he sustained a head injury repairing his boat, lost balance, and fell into the water, and succombed to the cold temperatures.

This blog contains Rick's Poetry.

(c) Ricky Dale McKean 2001, 2001

Rick's Poetry

Lunch - May 5, 2001

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