HOT PURSUIT
Bud Peka of Owatonna reads a poem in his living room in February 2023. The long-time poetry writer died last week at the age of 98. File photo
One of the strengths of community newspapers is engaging readers to be involved in some way in the newspaper.
For the past several years, I have had the privilege of publishing poems written by Bud Peka of Owatonna. They often ran on this page as well as in our monthly Senior Living section.
I usually begin piecing together the newspaper at my computer on Sunday afternoons. And without fail my inbox would light up with another poem or two or sometimes three from Bud. However, last week was different when a message came across from Bud’s wife, Susan, indicating that I should not be expecting any more poems as dear Bud had passed away. He was 98.
Bud continued writing poems up until the end. I had just received one from him on Aug. 25, and it was published in the Aug. 28 edition. He was always tickled when his friends, neighbors and even strangers commented about his poems appearing in the Times.
He dabbled in poetry writing throughout much of his life, but he didn’t really get serious until much later in life when he began writing with regularity at 91 years old. When I sat down to interview him in February 2023, Bud told me he just couldn’t stop writing poems.
“I can’t shut it off,” Bud said. “I’m in the shower, and I have a poem going through my mind. I’ll be sitting at breakfast and thoughts come to my head.”
But that’s not all.
“I’ve written poems in my sleep,” he said. “I have dreamed them, gotten up (in the middle of the night) and put them on paper.”
Besides sharing them with our readers, Bud wrote poems for family, friends and others. Instead of buying sympathy cards, Bud wrote poems for families whose loved ones passed on. He shared a special poem with me when my father died last fall. Our family used it at dad’s funeral.
In his earlier years, Bud was known for playing old-time music on his concertina at nursing homes, the VFW Fish Fry and other venues. The World War II veteran (U.S. Navy) came to Owatonna in 1980 to work at Federated Insurance. After retiring in 1990, Bud and his wife traveled extensively, including 21 cruises at various places around the world.
Bud had a heart of gold and was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. He had a way of expressing himself through poetry. I believe it’s one of the reasons he lived as long as he did.
“I would stagnate mentally if I didn’t write poems,” he once said. “It keeps my mind sharp. Writing poetry is a shorthand to express my feelings and emotions on topics that are important to me.”
His favorite poem of all time is “We All Sail Our Own Boat,” which I’m reprinting with this column.
About a year ago Bud authored “Bud’s Book of Poetry.” In it, he covered a broad spectrum of topics: faith, hope, charity and love of God and neighbor. He said, “With God’s help, I shall write as long as I can sit at a keyboard.”
Bud wrote up until the end. No doubt God came calling in hot pursuit of bringing Bud home to heaven.
We All Sail Our Own Boat
Bud Peka’s all-time favorite poem
I am sailing in a tiny boat, that’s afloat,
On that unpredictable ocean of life,
The winds of fate fill the sails of my boat,
I rejoice when everything seems just right.
At times only a tranquil calm remains,
Following the sea’s wild, tempestuous roar,
But I long ago had discovered my lighthouse,
Jesus steers me clear of perilous, rocky shores.
He always knows what is best for me,
Providing personal calmness, no I have to fear,
I constantly try to follow his moral compass,
He has charted a course for me to steer.
I try to live my life for Him, each and every day,
With firm hand I hold my boat on steady course,
But, at times I have drifted from my chosen way,
After which I’ve suffered deep remorse.
From my launching, rough seas, now my salvation,
I have tried to follow in his footsteps, while yet alive,
But now, my cruise is over, I’m at my destination,
I pray He’ll welcome me into His house, when I arrive.