An Old Man's Race - repost for Kevin

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Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2001-11-15 02:45 PM

An Old Man’s Race

Six foot tall
never over one fifty
in weight
“wiry” some would say
and that was him, a bit of
Bing Crosby if wearing the right hat,
sometimes a little bit of
Fred Astaire, when staging
some dance steps with
his Ginger

he was the kind who whistled while he worked

when he related stories
of his day or of other happenings, he had
this way of gesticulating, talking with his
hands, his left hand
picking at invisible lint on a nearby surface,
his right hand forming circles

carpenter’s hands

a man’s hands
that could pick up babies
and baby birds
lay concrete and hold kites, or
massage cramps from growing young legs

he must have been circling fifty when
some school boys, taunting him
with “old man” noises, which would
have haunted a lesser man,

well, he, with that lopsided grin framed
by two large ears
and a big old Roman nose
[Daddy, you’ve got a ski-nose!]
jutting from beneath his German blue eyes, said,
and it wasn’t hard to hear the
chuckle in the comment,
“well boys, care to try to
beat the old man
in a footrace?”

“Yeah, Old Man, you’re on!” and their
sarcasm capitalized their sarcasm.

He even gave the two of them a ten-foot
lead,

so he said, as one hand rounded in the air,
the other picking at invisible
lint on the table,

and what was not to believe?

Leaning forward, he imitated his run
in slow motion, how he put out his arms
to pump himself along, like a swimmer
using his arms to be pulled, then pushed
forward, blue eyes on the goal

and hitting the marker the boys had
set, two strides ahead of them,
he turned, waited for them
to hit the point they had designated, then the
three of them
made the return trip,

and he said, “I thought they
almost had me,”

but he finished the line, a couple
of paces ahead, the boys red-faced and
breathing hard,
hearing the “old man” say “thanks, boys”

and ever after that,
hearing “Sir,” from them
and respect
capitalized the word.

Kevin

Senior Member

since 1999-11-02

Posts 729
Torrington, Ct, Usa

1 posted 2001-11-15 03:41 PM

Believe When I say
you can always expect
That I treat all my mentors
With love and respect
I learn much from their wisdom
A very large debt
But ill still get ol' bally!
this aint nothin yet

!

Startime
Member Ascendant

since 2000-10-03

Posts 5918
Canada

2 posted 2001-11-15 09:28 PM

Oh this was truly a fantastic read. *grin* perfect timing for such a wonderful race poem.

Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams.

Temptress

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-06-15

Posts 7136
Mobile, AL

3 posted 2001-12-03 08:38 PM

Cute, Sweet Lady. I love this!

Your storm of assumption feeds anger I am calm enough to hold inside. Don't pretend to know me if you've never put stretched out your heart with since

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

4 posted 2001-12-04 04:29 PM

I remember this treasure! *S* And it was a delight to read it again. Great work!

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