He was an old man, through my young eyes
His long life had manifested itself inescapably
He walked with two wooden sticks
And wore shoes that accommodated his corns
He no longer spoke his fathers language
Having lived in a foreign country for so long
But memories were scattered around his room
They kept him company during the winter
On my last visit with him he tried to teach me
Many of the skills that he had acquired
From laying bricks in Flemish bond
To personal hygiene tips he’d learned while serving
He called the night before his sons found him
He was cheery and talked on for a long while
He asked after Margaret, was she doing ok
Goodbye I said, see you soon
A Cow In The Water 