There came a certain time every year,
signified by a signature wooden crack,
when the air released its burden
of heavy snowflakes, freezing rain,
and wispy white mists
from the mouths of Michiganders,
and filled its days instead
by ferrying fragrant aromas, bustling insects,
and the voice of Ernie Harwell.
Near and far this herald of spring swept,
missing no countryside or cityscape,
no farmhouse or apartment complex.
Those days have sadly passed,
except on those rare occasions
when our memories pinch-hit for the air’s task
and remind us of that melodic, honest baritone
we trusted with our evenings.
Jesse Goldberg-Strassler is the voice of the Lansing Lugnuts and a member of the writers’ group Writing at the Ledges which recently published “Seasons of Life”.
Ernie was the best and lives on forever in our hearts. Here’s a sildeshow tribute to him with my song “Voice of Summer”
This poem just captures it so sweetly. For those of us who grew up with Ernie Harwell, there really hasn’t been anyone to fill his shoes. He was like Walter Cronkite for the radio, you just felt so happy to hear his voice, he was so familiar to all of us. I love the “signature wooden crack”, very nice imagery.