Grandpa's DeskHis exit time had long since come and gone Gramma said his number had been drawn Sitting Indian-style upon her floor I watched her slide open each file and drawer He’d kept an hidden folder on each of us Which one fibbed, whom he could trust Which one preferred canned Mountain Dew Who had snitched his last bottle of Yahoo I uncrossed by legs, like a bird I perched Peering over her shoulder, watching her search I pretended not to notice the tears that strayed When she found his calendar of remembered days He’d penciled in the addresses for possible return Her abrupt stillness caused me sudden concern A barely detectable scent around us loomed The attic air filled with another’s stale perfume I had no option to hide my apparent surprise She saw it in my face, the width of my eyes Softly patting my hand, she acquiesced with her head Her posture shrugged then grew stoic instead What stayed in my memory, frozen in time Was the strength of a lineage, I’d later find mine |