The Old Man on the Mantle

A trip to the corner craft-shop yielded your presence

Now you oversee my home-life from your pretend marble perch

You quietly watched me fall in love

Without a word you watched as my love disintegrated

With your wise scowl you peered skeptically at a love re-kindled

What must you have thought when the re-kindled disintegrated again?

Here we sit again

Just you and me

You gaze sympathetically at me

Your hands caressing your chin as I naively try to understand life

I wonder what sage thoughts must be in your mind as you sit in your eternal crouch

What wise words are on the tip of your inanimate tongue?

I wonder if your heart aches empathetically for me deep in your sunken, wooden breast or

Do you have an irresistible urge to give me a “get it together” kick with your pigeon toed foot?

Regardless of what is running through your charcoal colored head,

It is a debt of gratitude that I owe to you

You have kept watch over me through good times and bad

Thank you for your silent wisdom and strength