Old Man with a Swimming Pool
As I sit and stare I know full well
you will not clean yourself.
Not once in 43 years did
you toss out the leaves,
kill the forming green algae
or run in new water.
I stare at the beautiful reflections
on your glass surface and
marvel at us two old ones with
a shared past.
When I was young
and had lots of energy
you were new and easy to keep clean.
There was not a tree
over 3 feet tall in 200 yards.
Drop in a bit of acid and chlorine
and you were sterile and
beautifully transparent.
Your new white plaster
and the sun lit the pool.
You were then as cold
as you were clear.
Your clarity invited a quick dive
and quick shiver.
These days there are lots
of year-round leaf-dropping trees.
They are close and hanging over you.
Come a slight wind and you
manage to Willie Mays
catch every leaf dropped.
Whatever and how many,
you manage to neatly catch all
windy throws to you.
I have taken good care of you
low these many years.
Black algae, cracks
and broken pump motors
fixed fast.
Leaves on the top,
leaves on the bottom
scooped up and measured.
I hired Oscar, the pool sweep.
to help.
He worked day in
and day out to harvest
your collection of neighbors'leaves.
The solar heater stopped
the shivering cursing
you got for years.
So here I sit staring at you
thinking of all the kids
who learned to swim in you.
Guess it has been worth it, huh?
And my thought is how
much like a married couple we are.
When we were young
we played with no concern of work.
Now that we are old
we need to dedicate
ourselves to mutual service.
But, my friend you are old enough
to clean up after yourself.
And you have not done much
for me lately.
Doug Minnis
May 8,2010