Tommie Closson

Brother Tommie Closson Writes: "I've read some of the work in your collection, and was duly impressed at the creativity within our Brotherhood. I hope this piece is worthy to reside there. Until a week or so ago, I hadn't written anything that wasn't related to work (i.e. a commercial) in a dog's age, but I reopened the blank page books and started scrawling. This was one of the first I came up with."

One Lodge

Grandfather's lodge is gone now,
The charter pulled down from the wall.
The mortar has found some new purpose,
The Master's within a new hall.

To most it's a joyful occasion,
A merger of Brothers and friends.
But the number that made him a Mason
Has scattered to history's winds.

What if my Lodge should pass from existence?
I'll see with the passing of time,
If my son joins the Order as I did,
Will he kiss the same Bible as I?

With so much left to do for our neighbors,
And a trestle board full of to do's,
I must say that it's terribly petty
To argue the price of my dues.

Beside my Lodge altar a flag flies,
Of a place where a person can go,
To freely help Brothers and neighbors
In the length of his cable tow.

So Brothers, let's work for tomorrow,
And read from a braver man's tome,
May fraternity e'er be our focus,
No matter what Lodge we call home.

Brother Tommie Closson

St. Joseph Lodge #437
St. Joseph, MI