grandpa 
can you give me a nickel 
he was tall like a tree 
my grandpa 
I looked way up 
he looked way down 
at little four year old me 
he smiled that smile 
that only grandpas smile 
reached in his pocket 
his money pocket 
that tinkled with coins 
pulled out his fist 
and opened it wide 
to a treasure I couldn't see 
he picked out a coin 
and handed it down 
down into my little 
four year old hand 
... 
it's a penny I said 
as I looked way up 
 giving him my best 
best impish smile 
see 
it's not shiny 
... 
I'll give you a shiny 
if you give back the brown 
... 
I thought for a moment 
I know it's a brown nickle 
we little kids know things like that 
and I wanted them both 
... 
It's only a penny 
can I have it too 
I'll have only six cents 
when I add up the two 
... 
a smile crossed his face 
he knew my childish trickery 
and smiled that knowing smile 
that way down 
in his childhood memory 
he was me 
and handed down 
his shiny 

... 

Keith  O'Connor 
Ottawa  Canada 
aug   7   2001 
www.tinmangallery.com