Between dawn and the drive to work
Paw prints in the dew.

Afternoon's secret and its telling
Laughter behind open hands.

Before the twilight and dreaming
Wishes not yet fulfilled.

After midnight and the full moon
Dreams of paw prints in the dew.

"Frisco," said he, with a crooked smile.
"No," said I. "San Francisco."

"Frisco," said he, with a rude sneer.
"No," said I. "That's a town in Colorado."

"Frisco," said he, with a dare in his voice.
"Take that," said I. "In the face."

"Okay San Francisco," said he, through broken teeth.

School, for a time, was hate-filled
Bullies and critics spoiled it

Summers, oh back then, was a crush
Too many and oh so fickle

Marriage, ah mid-life, was love
The type supposedly etched in stone

Children, pfew, way too many, were adored
No matter how they grew up

Grandkids, wow, amazingly young, rebuffed love
They too would grow wild some day

Coffin, alas too late, is pride
Polished with wax and made forever to shine

No matter how loud the band
They said without having heard it

No matter how lame the movie
They said without having seen it

No matter how ill-written the novel
They said without having read it

No matter how inattentive the child
They said without having loved it

No matter how poorly maintained the road
They said without having driven it

No matter at all
They said