Rick's Poetry: Whirlwind

Whirlwind
(c) April 4, 2001

I chanced upon a whirlwind
while walking late today
it rustled in the trees
until the leaves began to stray

Dropping to the fenceline
it brushed against the rails
whistled in the wire
and scattered one cattail

As I stood by looking
it danced over to a stream
just close enough to ripple
while it sipped a little drink

It then seemed to linger
as if to pause and sigh
then quick twirled by some flowers
they must have caught it's eye

Closer to the parkway
it breezed by two large dogs
stopped to brush their shiny coats
and then said so long

Just then a tall young man
was walking by the lawn
the whirlwind gave a spiteful twist
and the young man's hat was gone

You might say it's funny
I guess that's alright
but that was my new poker cap
bought for the game tonight

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

Whirlwind - April 4, 2001

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