Impish Legacy
by Odin Roark

He was like you and me
Arms
Legs
Regrets
Passions

With little that stood out
Save his church-Sunday handshake
His calloused palms
Telling much of
This no-nonsense man

His plaid shirt
Always starting off clean
But wrinkled
Hating to bother anyone
To iron
Wafted oil and soil by midday
The kind sometimes tied
To grease monkey slurs

Labor-ravaged pants
Covered legs of hardlife-stamina
Where given his bumless backside
Help was always needed

But

Snap-of-his-thumbs suspenders
Imprinted proudly with Monroe’s famous
Skirt-blowing pinup
Kept shortcomings intact

Here was an everyday man
With time galloping by
Waiting for no one

He rose at 6
Quick coffee
Out the door
Down the road
8 at the yard
Change this one’s oil
Replace that one’s brakes
Add up the receipts
Take home the earnings
Make another deposit
College won’t be cheap

Leave front door open
Son’s out late

Comfort frail wife
Crawl into bed
Labor’s hand gentle
Jergen’s hand longing
Spooning together
Smiles and pain
Always slow to slumber

So went this life
Until it didn’t

The funeral brought
Many more wafts of oil and grease
Friends of a feather
Still flocking together
With tears and sadness
While upon his face
A subtle smile well known
Belied the crossed hand atop his chest

Some of us knew
He was dreaming
Just one more snap of the suspenders
One last reminder of life

Such became an impish legacy
One who acquired so much
Yet took so little