Like Always
Every day the door opened at one
Harold stepped out he never held the door
for her or anyone he just took his time
one foot then the other down the steps
his cane held out his sweater buttoned
no one saw him cock his head like a crow
one eye looking up at the sky
judging the weather it was a fine day he thought
no rain in sight no damn wind
His bald head his unshaved whiskers
that cherry pie stain on his shirt
his favorite shirt the one made
of thick cotton like canvas the kind
he wore in the woods hauling out timber
he was big then, real big
shoulders that tipped a log downhill
he held an axe like a man
bigger than his father
His father his steps falter a bit
the cane falls to the sidewalk
damn him he thinks his thin hands
reaching for the cane his eyes
filling with tears like always