he’s a difficult man
well known through the town
an unfriendly coot
with a permanent frown
daily seen in a terrible mood
short-tempered
offending
unflinchingly rude
living just feet
from the door to his life
witness to the grumbling
he makes of his life
i can also attest
to the flash of his smile
to his generous nature
(when not being vile)
It takes very little
to stir up a fuss
to feel the sharp sting
of this old sourpuss
yet being good neighbors
to his sort in the past
we found simple kindness
sweetens sour moods fast
it doesn’t take much
to shed light on the dark
to simply accept
that there’s bite and there’s bark
that below the rough surface
all calloused and dry
beats a sensitive heart
lives a pretty nice guy
so i try to turn cheek
to his commonplace gripes
to the misplaced resentment
he’s let run his life
a constant reminder
how to live and let live
to accept what we can
and to give what we give
Dog-eared Stories by anne celano frohna 