The Man Hunt

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In Memoriam

Andrew Samuel Griffith

June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012
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A  
lways as a child

I watched and still watch

to build a manhood from black and white parts

the dandy map

with the sticky buttons

that was my map

the squad car

with antenna arc

that was my car

the guitar

on the front porch

that was my guitar

but these were just things

just props just staging

for the real building

the quiet sheriffing

the choir singing

the barney protecting

the aunt bee teasing

the opie instructing

the miss crump courting

and so the show goes on

in my own plans

to 10-4 first

and never to curse

but someday to marry

the county nurse

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Special thanks to my daughter Kate who helped take notes in the car on the way home from her Zumba class!

Image: Fair use. Screen shot of "The County Nurse" from season 2, first aired March 19, 1962