The Other Walt
The other Walt you might not know,
He dwells within a deeper thicket.
He writes of blood-stained city rag
Or winter snow with summer cricket.
Walter Wangerin, of faith and sky,
With every breath held dear,
His stories play in grit and smoke
Or the land of Chanticleer.
A ragman roams the dirty streets,
Taking sin-stained rags, impure.
Exchanging death for life anew,
A parable of the Christ, our Cure.
A moaning dog named Mundo Cani,
Battles beast who in earth did churn.
Now Pertelote, in shades of beauty,
Mourns two sorrows; finds much to learn.
Walt, or Walter, or the boy-man Wally,
Writes bold colors in pen-stained glass.
I follow you, thin wonder-brother
A-striding tall the golden grass.
written for Walter Wangerin, Jr.
