THE FIRST B L

I've seen the family photos of the first BL

a mystery man from history that photos just can't tell

my grandma was his widow, my father was his son

the stories about him ... he sounds like a son-of-a-gun

Some of them apocryphal about how he made his pile

legendary tales abound, none committed to pen or file

memories of the man recount how he rose and fell

like trying to hold on to mercury ... that's the first BL

They say he was mercurial like that Roman God

eloquent, a newshound,,he wasn't strange or odd

a horticultural man, he made his mark upon the land

and enterprising contrarian, a man considered grand

We're told he loved his whisky, a cigar and his cards

enjoyed a game and a bet with his card-playing pards

high up in the cupola, having meals dumb-waitered to them

in the White House he'd built where he'd moved from the Log Cabin

Now, I've heard the occasional story from Dad, the second BL

I sensed a reserve between them but for sure I couldn't tell

like the sun and the moon, had they been locked into a pugilist's dance?

or were they both in harmony? ... in apposition and concordance?

My brothers and I have this legacy from both of those BLs

gardening is my thing, ditto for Dave and John as well

Rog is showing some promise with salads, herbs and other plantings

my sisters ... 'nuff said ... to them growing things are like alien landings

Mortality beckons me as I ruminate about that first BL

Nannan and he broke down barriers, told 'em all to go to hell

Pauline says I'm my fathers son, growing old like the second BL

I'd like to think I'm much like them but I didn't know the first BL