An Old Man's Race [for OwlSA]

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Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2008-06-24 11:58 AM

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 Indian nose
[Daddy, you’ve got a ski-nose!]
jutting from beneath his
blue Germanic 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 Naivety.

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

or so he said in the telling,
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.

(c) 2001

graeshine2006
Member

since 2008-06-03

Posts 368
The Prairie Lands, USA

1 posted 2008-06-24 12:31 PM

Wow - this is my favorite I've read of yours so far. I want to know this man. And laugh with him.

Larry C

Member Patricius

since 2001-09-10

Posts 10286
United States

2 posted 2008-06-24 01:01 PM

Well Sunny One age does have its advantages. Lovely write.

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

3 posted 2008-06-24 02:41 PM

Thank you Karilea! I loved every step of this!

Well done, old guy! We'll show them, won't we!

- Owl

Topheth
Member

since 2001-09-08

Posts 297
Texas

4 posted 2008-06-24 09:15 PM

Beautifully done... reminds me of my grandfather.

"You inspire; I desire – and refrain; you sustain."

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