I Loved My Time With You - 2

girl, take off those shoes and socks
you’d say
it’s raining, let’s go!
we’ve got puddles to find

when you found me snooping
around your dressing table
you’d say
let’s get dolled up!
patting the bench
beside you
lipstick, rouge, perfume, high heels,
earrings, hat and gloves
mirror, the two of us
Grandpa, look!

every day, a nap
starting with a story
from Redbook
or your horse and buggy childhood

you saved greeting cards
for me
for drawing paper
and Betsy McCall paper dolls
to cut out

I loved your molasses cookies,
your refrigerated water,
your slabs of tomato
with sugar on top

how you talked to the birds
on the back porch
to the neighbors on the front

you taught me to love children
and how to love children