Wagon

Wagon 

By John R. Greenwood

parched and thirsty the old guy rests his rusty wheels 

he had better days when the kids were small

and they filled the back and waved 

at grandma in the kitchen window 

The one with the yellow daisy curtains pulled back

those finer times when the soft earth soothed his dry tires 

and he had something to look forward to on Saturday mornings

when the grass was taller than his weathered racks and the 

baby calves rubbed their heads on him whenever he sat still too long

now bored and left wondering how long he’s got

retired to the shed 

to just sit 

and wait

maybe the kid’s kids will grow up and see him for what he’s worth

maybe they’ll replace the rubber tires with Goodyears 

from Free Wheelin’ Sam’s Tire Store downtown 

maybe they take him all the way to the county line 

where the transfer station replaced the old town dump 

the place where you now have to separate your plastics 

maybe just maybe this fall when the leaves are shin high

and the kids need money to go see Star Wars 2014

maybe then he’ll get his fill of oak and maple and pine needle

and then we’ll see how useful and happy he’ll be...