Grampa Was Strange (But I Loved Him) Poem by David Whalen

When I was a lad
My grandpa always had
An adage for each and every situation

He’d rub his face,
Sagely gaze into space
As if in deep, focused concentration

Then he’d turn to me
And say “Well, Son you see
It’s a bit of a complication”

It didn’t seem to give him pause
About What my problem really was
His answer was the same without deviation

His answer to me
Always just confused me, you see
Yet could not have been proffered any kinder

His answer was always kinda funky
He’d say “never ask the monkey…
Son…Always ask the Organ grinder”

To this very day
I can honestly say
I don’t know what he meant
…But I loved him