Hello Mr. Clock Poem by JAMES T. ADAIR

Hello Mr. Clock
Hello Mr. Teapot
and then I heard her little voice
Hellp Mr. Clock
she said it out loud

I smiled my first big smile in a long time
This cute little girl
sitting on my knee surveying the kitchen
Hello Mr. Stove...I said
Hello Mr. Sove...she mimicked loudly
this was such a happy moment
and then sadness returned

My little grandaughter
the one I didn't know about
The one who I wasn't able to welcome into the world
the one I couldn't see
but here she was with me

My heart has been broken in so many ways
but a new sadness was for the little girl: Calla
She's been kept from me and I've been kept from her
but when I do see her she now calls me grandpa
A young mother is working and doesn't give her real care
She things she does but she's a part time mom
Her fahter thinks watching her is puttting her in a room
and she's a good girl if she's quiet
The poor girl hasn't talked and only answers
um hmm! or nods her head and she's already 3

Hello Ms. Microwave...
she loves this little game I invented
she can say the words if its a game
Hello Ms. Microway she says loudly and clearly
in the cutest little girl's voice
and she laughs and scrinches up her nose at me
like a little cherub
Its funny how we two get along

But I know she's going back to a home
that's not helping her
she needs care and work
in just a day I found her to learn so much
if somone spent time with her
the thought saddens me
knowing I'm little part of her life
I just don't fit in it
but she doesn't know this
and I smile and have her eyes follow my finger
and I make a buzzing sound and touch her nose
buzzzzzz!
which she giggles to

She's breaking my heart
this cute little angel
who will grow up before I can blink my eyes
She'll forget me
she hardly knows me
I wish I could keep her and raise her

I said do you still play with puzzles
and she says Um Hmm.
she only talks when she needs to
or in the game I invented
Hello Mr. Salt.....
Hello Mr. Salt she says

The next morning she was leaving
and as she drove away I waved
and felt sadness in my heart and chest
because I know I won't see her
and then I looked at the clock in the kitchen
and watched it tick
Hello Mr. Clock
and I felt so alone and lost
knowing how quickly time passes

2008 © James T. Adair