From Eileen Gilday
A Poem Written by Her Son Kevin in Honor of His Sister Eileen Sullivan’s Birthday on October 10th (10/10/59 – 9/4/10)
From Long Island’s North Bay to Carvel
By Kevin Gerard Gilday (7/12/55 – 6/14/12)
The sun setting on a perfect fun filled summer’s day
On a rocky stretch of the beach on Long Island’s North Bay
I was Roger Maris with a plastic bat hitting out those rocks
My imagination running wild- Yankee Stadium erupts in cheers with each bat’s pop
While mom was heard laughing the famous infectious laugh that mom’s known for
You were spotted by us kids as you let down the wagon’s tailgate door
Do you remember this ritual- be sure your kids do
‘Cause we scattered for the dunes- we didn’t want to face you
You just stood there yelling each of our names by our age order
We all came when your voice got serious
Oh well Dad- kinda’- sorta’
Dad stood there a young strapping tall man
With a God Damn white towel dangling from his hand
Ready to snap that towel on our ankles
Ridding the wagon of that bay’s sand
I think it’s here where the boys first called you
The Old Man
Then we went driving on the freeway- the L I E
Eight different songs being sung simultaneously
We never knew what you were talking about to Mother El
But we found out soon enough going down Franny Lew- to Carvel’s
I always got soft ice cream that was dipped in chocolate
I was about 11 years old- I’ll never forget these memories
And I thank you for it