Did They Have Bicycles When You Were a Boy, Grandpa?

What was that time we waited for

That first fourth of our lives –

And then forgot by the second fourth?

How many wait until laters

Did we partake of?

And wait until later never came.

That bright green bedspread

That looked so good

With the carpet, thick and rich,

Has faded and the ends have frayed

And battles with the vacuum cleaner

Each Saturday.

Forty-two years

And a dozen clocks later,

A closet full of clothes hang,

Still hoping maybe to drape their selves

Over a body like they used to.

But bodies aren’t like they used to be

And the Goodwill box is never handy.

    

Never made that million, Hon’,

After fifty years of toil

Working for that time clock.

Now I wear this gold watch

Just to watch

All this time that I’ve got

Go by.
    
    

  

Remember when we used to walk

And point out old people –

Wrinkled, grayed and wobbly.

You would say,

“Will you still love me when I get old

And look like that?”

Or

“I’ll bet you’ll look like him

When you get old.”
Or

“Do you think that you’ll grow bald?”

Where’d we put that old photograph album?

I guess I’ll wait and look for it

Tomorrow.

It can wait one more day.
    

What was it that Melanie’s son said yesterday?

“Did they have bicycles when you were a boy

Grandpa?”
    

That old photograph album

Has got to be here somewhere.

Ah, darn it!

It’ll wait until later.

Heh! Heh!

Did they have bicycles when you were a boy

Grandpa?

Heh! Heh! Heh!

Enjoy the Ride! 

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