Can't Tell Me Nothin'

Old man Clarence looks through each and every page,
As the tears ripple down his cheeks imprinted with age;
And he laughs at the memories; covering up the tears,
Because somehow - he had lost his heart in the years.

Captain of the football team, with a sweet pretty-boy face,
Ran around in his jersey with definite leadership and grace,
And his high school ring, it was buried with his sweetheart,
The day that the cancer had come down and tore them apart.

And his Grandpa's old guitar, was lost in college long ago,
Pawned off for a flat of beer and a girl in his room alone -
Still remembering the day it was revealed; with such sorrow;
When his Dad told him he would never see tomorrow.

And he took a swing at his old man; fell down to his knees,
Raised his head up to the sky and cried; begging please -
And that day that he waved goodbye through the swirling dust,
Was one he never knew he'd look back on in udder disgust.

And as he holds his hand above his broken heart he sighs:
"Can't tell me nothin' that I haven't already come to realize,
I've been around the world and back - just so I could see,
That every little mistake you make is a forgotten memory."

-Jenna Elphick
July 12, 2007