When I walked into Peter F's office
he was printing photographs
of his son’s girlfriend
gorgeous woman
“Bernstein, ” he said, somewhat sadly,
“time flies.”
”What else is new.”
“My son’s in college
costing me a fortune
fourteen grand a year
but that’s not the worst of it
he’s in love…”
“What a blessing! ” I said, then
shook his hand
“Really in love…”
Once more I pumped flesh saying,
“What a blessing! ”
“Helen, the girl’s name,
wants children
right away
an orphan
so I can see her need
but then
what?
I’m a grandfather…”
Grabbed his hand again,
squeezed this time
saying, “What a blessing! ”
“Yeah,
but time flies
faster
than my mind can comprehend
and after
what?
in the coffin.”
“I ever tell you about Emperor MacNabb? ”
“Real or a guy
from one of your stories? ”
“His name
mother really loved him
but that’s another narrative
so every time I saw him
he amazed me
ninety-four years old
arms powerful enough
to sling a line
as far as any man on the Pier
fifty years worked high steel in Manhattan
now fishes everyday rain or shine
upbeat, positive, joyous
asked him one day, ‘Aren’t you ever
[...] Read more
poem by Charles Chaim Wax
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
