There was a boy....

There was a boy who came to my house.
He and I would go to the park to play keep
away to hone his soccer skills.
WHERE DID THAT BOY GO?

And over the years, work would be done in the
yard with dutiful breaks for lunch and such.
WHERE DID THAT BOY GO?

And Spring was egg coloring with Fall, jack lanterns
carvings to be done with great jeers and laughter at
the kitchen table with the man of the house.
WHERE DID THAT BOY GO?

Summer filled with mix day camps runs and yard
work for pay. For buying power for bikes and play stations.
WHERE DID THAT BOY GO?

As now the past Fall came and went, with pumpkins
uncut. And Spring brought uncolored eggs. And now
the second summer is upon me with no helper.
WHERE DID THAT BOY GO?

For you see, the replacement to be is a young man.
Who spars with the man of the house over repairs
and speakers and stereo, you see. With sayings of
“I know for a fact”. We know when he arrives with
the bass of the radio competes with the roar of the
muffler. And up the stairs he bounds, the young man
appears. And our little dog squeals with joy of
anticipation of play, as this young man speaks. And
off he goes again, in the mist of bass and mufflers, to
join friends or his fast food job.
WHERE DID THAT BOY GO?

We know our time is short with this young man,
as adulthood is just beyond the horizon. A life of
his own will make him scarce.
WHERE DID THAT BOY GO?

And as I see each day, this young man, my heart
grows prouder and yet sadder, as he grows. His
mother, grandfather and I will all be saying…
WHERE DID THAT BOY GO?


I hope he remembers his promise of years ago.
His promise to push my wheelchair to the bench
at the city beach. So I can see the water and mountains
one last time. The bench where he and I sat for
from time to time, during many discussions of life.
WHERE DID THAT LITTLE BOY GO?