The View

THAT’S SO SECOND GRADE POPPOP

THIS FROM MY GRANDDAUGHTER

AFTER MY TELLING HER

ONE OF MY WORLD FAMOUS

KNOCK KNOCK JOKES

OR TALK TO THE HAND

THE FACE ISN'T LISTENING

AFTER I'VE TEASED HER

TO THE POINT OF EXASPERATION

OR TO GET MY GOAT

SHE'LL SWEETLY ASK ME

TO TELL HER ABOUT THE OLD DAYS

THEN STIFLES A YAWN

AND CROSSES HER EYES

I DON'T KNOW HOW THE WORLD WILL SURVIVE

IF I DON'T TEACH MY GRANDCHILDREN

HOW TO TAKE OFF THE TOP OF THEIR FINGER

OR THE WORDS TO LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING UP

SO MUCH TO DO

SO LITTLE TIME

I HAVE LIVED THE BIBLICAL GOOD LIFE

I HAVE SEEN MY CHILDREN’S CHILDREN

AND BEYOND

THERE WERE TIMES I THOUGHT

THEY'D ALL END UP IN PRISON

BUT IN SPITE OF ALL MY PARENTING MISTAKES

THEY'VE TURNED OUT WELL

AND I AM PROUD OF THEM

TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN

ONE MUST ENDURE THE PAIN OF THE CLIMB

SO IT IS WITH PARENTING

I HAVE REACHED THE PINNACLE

AND THE VIEW IS WORTH THE CLIMB

FRANK A VOLLMER