I met a friend’s mom today,
and THAT meeting
explained
so much
about who
my friend is.
Apples don’t roll far.
Mom was quick,
witty,
ironic,
and too smart
for her own good.
She is her son.
He is his mother.
There is this guy
at the coffee shop
who I’ve seen there
forever.
I could completely
walk,
and talk,
stand,
and move
like he does
because I have seen him
for years.
Well,
last week,
he had a twin
minus 30 years.
They walked to the car,
talked identically,
stood just like each other,
and moved together
like one.
Young One
had his girlfriend with him
and all I could think,
was,
Poor thing.
All she has to do
is look at Daddy
and project
who she’ll be with
in 30 years.
Speaking of
poor thing,
my daughter
has no chance.
We are damn twins,
except somehow
she turned out
pretty,
but I’m prejudiced.
I remember
doing a little experiment
when I was
The Program Director
of a Youth Camp
during College.
We stood at the flag pole
and sang Johnny Appleseed
as a blessing
before each meal.
During staff training,
I told the staff
that the kid’s
do what they do,
not what they say.
I showed them
a little experiment
around the flagpole.
While singing,
I crossed my arms.
50 kids crossed their arms.
I folded my hands
on top of my head.
50 kids folded their hands
on top of their heads.
I smiled my big
shit eatin’ grin
and there was a lot
of shit eatin’ grinnning
going on
around that pole.
We’re just goddamn mother ducks
on this planet,
doing what we do
when we do it.
Be careful,
who knows
what a little
inner peace
will bring
to the world.
My twin, Mary Grace, and I!