GRANTING GRACE TO THE YOUNG

I try to ignore the car
closing in on my old Chevy
but it passes me on a curve
and I see a kid is driving—
listlessly giving me the finger,
barely worth his time—
as he roars around me
without glancing my way,
but I am angry only briefly,
having grandchildren his age
who do stupid things, too,
and I want to warn him
I might be armed and unbalanced—
one can be both in America—
and I allow myelf a smile
thinking back on the days
I might have followed him home
and scared him half to death
in his parents’ driveway.

I might have published an earlier version of this poem here but I can’t find it, it’s been rewritten and I think it’s fun. Be careful, young man; some of us old geezers are still dangerous.

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My book, SLOW RIVERS, can be ordered through your local bookstore or online via bookshop.org. (ISBN 979-8-218-43822-7).

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Joseph Neely, all rights to original material reserved in full.