The Old Man on the Red Porch

Lyman Grant

June 18, 2023

Often, he is sitting up there,

the morning light preying

up the little box table 

beside him erect in his rocker.

He does not wave back.

I don’t even think he nods

at us perambulators, gleeful

in our healthful self-satisfaction.

We are mere moments 

he remains indifferent to,

thoughtless smiles dressed

for each passing season,

arms raised and dancing

like penitents on the back pew,

eager to snare some god’s attention.

Lyman Grant is an expat Texan living in the Shenandoah Valley.  His most recent book of poems is ostraca, from 4doorloungebooks.