Like Ivy Ivy lasts forever. | don't know if you've ever seen ivy Like the kind around our house. Itstretches all over From the windows to the very foundation Of our proud brick adobe. remember that ivy Ast climbed the walls, ‘And I remember how it watched Our days go by. He said that he wouldn't do it, ‘And of course, we all believed him. Alter all, who in their right mind would admit That he wanted to be gone, gone gone? Yet still, The ivy listened to his vehement Declaration. I think he had his mind set on the thing ‘And nothing could change that mind, That iron mind with its unmoving, stubborn ideas. Ivy is stubborn, too. Itjust doesn't let go Unless you really tear it off of there. | think it was partly a fault of his habits. He didn't like it when Mom told him he had to quit- Well, whatever, Anything she thought he should quit. (\ bet it was the drinking that did it), Mom took good care of that ivy. She even left up all the old growth So that the new shoots could hold on ‘When they started trickling up each spring. | think he really tried to keep itall inside, No matter how much Mom nagged him to open up And spill, he just wouldn't let it slide, | suppose that’s why he didn't care to survive. You see, ivyis resilient and will thrive just because it wants to. I think that Dad said men don't cry, ‘And that every tear spilt is another count against your pride Ws such 2 wonderfully perfect lie. used to think the streaming ivy That ripples down our house Was a rivulet of tears Coming from the window-eyes. ‘And now, afterall these years, The ivy stil lives Without But every time the wind Brushes through the evergreen leaves I think of his laugh. You know, memory It's hard to explain why. ivy.