toothless smile
ear to ear
****** haze glazing sparkling eyes
as the grandchildren round the bend
face lit like the brightest moon
as tales of the fish that slipped the hook
and the biggest blackberry Thomas Creek ever produced
are excitedly shared
I watch from the rustic and weathered picnic table
thinking to myself
someday that will be me....
hopefully without the addiction
still looming --
he pulls from his pocket three full sized
chocolate bars
and hands them out
eagerly accepted as if an Oscar
or Leprechaun gold
the children scamper back into the forest
lost on another adventure
turning away from the dust trail
the greatest man I have ever known
shoots me a wink
and heads inside to catch the last
fifteen minutes
of C.S.I. Miami --