Hale Chatfield Elegy

He was a poet,
amused with life’s foible-ing —
laughing at himself.

He was a mentor,
teaching me to trust myself —
being here and now.

He used to tell us,
“A poet needs a day job” —
his was teaching us.

He read our poems,
drew smiles on those that he liked —
Thanksgiving Day feast.

–LE

Note: Hale Chatfield was my poetry and literature professor and mentor at Hiram College.