eyes on the prize

a pairing: The Walking Man, Shanna Bruschi, 2011

The Walking Man, Shanna Bruschi, 2011

The painting by Shanna Bruschi, I imagine, represents how the girl in my poem saw me as she fast approached on her scooter. See more paintings, and photography, by Shanna Bruschi at her website here.

eyes on the prize
(incident after learning 
I am to be a grandfather)

My paltry shock of hair,
silvery salt and pepper,
shockingly, still there; 

as well, my gait,
more lumber than limber, 
consequence of years 
and a bit of weight,  

surely prompted 
that boyish lass,
manning her scooter, 
to deliver her sass,

to zoom me by,
to suddenly blurt, 
(it was no faux pas,
her aim to hurt):  

“Keep your eyes on the prize,
                                         grandpa!”

But I did not mind, no,
for she, unwitting
courier of kind,
discerned my heart, 

how it winks anew 
in the one old story, 
grand and true, 
of which I am soon 
to be a part.