Hope and Mr. Neery
I saw Mr. Neery,
ninety if a day,
wobbly on his walker
on his way to Sunday Mass.
He won't accept a ride,
insists on walking.
He's easy to spot,
a St. Louis Cardinals fan
in a bright red jacket
and a Cardinals cap
that halts a hurricane
of snowy hair.
It's his first Mass
since burying his wife
a month ago when
someone lent him
a black suit to wear.
Now he's in red again,
a sign of hope,
even if he's bent over,
his humped back a
question mark growing.
But he's no different now
than he was before.
He still comes to Mass
like everyone else
looking for the answer
and to pray for the Cardinals
who play the Mets
at 1 o'clock this afternoon.
Old Stag Giddy
Elmer's an old stag now
shedding antlers
snorting among the trees
but sometimes Martha
after her shower
is a doe beckoning
and he becomes giddy
and heads for the salt lick
happy in the breeze
Carousel of Marriage
Harry and Grace had a carousel
of marriage while it lasted.
There were arguments galore
and children by the score
or so the neighbors thought
as they counted kids
running across their lawns
causing divots to fly and
dogs to bark, a canine
tabernacle choir.
Fireworks on the Fourth
were peaceful in comparison.
The kids would light their
crackers in the yard while
Harry and Grace sat
and swirled vodka on ice
in plastic tumblers.
Harry and Grace had arguments
so loud the cops would come
but no one was ever arrested.
Grace would say Harry was wonderful
and Harry would say Grace was too.
But eventually Harry moved out
and Grace got a job doing hair.
Harry sent money for years
and the kids went to college.
Decades later a neighbor saw Harry
at the Mall and they had a nice chat.
Harry said he was happy his kids
got degrees and it was good Grace
had married the farrier and moved
to Wyoming where there were horses.
Not much work for a farrier in Brooklyn.
He had time to break up a marriage.
Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
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