Because You Giggled

It was all
Because you giggled
On that windy sunny April Sunday
Three days just my birthday past.
There was nothing pure
'Bout the way I watched you
Bendin' over that wobbly table
Hammer poundin' rusted nails
Into Mama Kay's next wood shop project.
I let loose with some worn out
"Crazy weather"
"Seen the news"
"How's the fam"
Mouth chatter
Just to see what you might say.
But you giggled
      you giggled
And that was all.

Nothin' could've been more sloppy
Than when ya wrestled me to the ground
And kissed me with a mouth full of grass.
I was pissed off delighted
That our first ruby red kiss
Tasted like Alabama mud pies,
Brother Joe's springtime lawn shavings.
We were just two pent up bear cubs
Mother let loose out into the prairie,
Adam and Eve
Just before snack time in the garden.
I guess we had a falling out
A long time a-comin',
When the stickball games
And run away Jimmy Dean daydreams
Got a little too serious,
A little too real
For two rock 'n roll dynasty clowns
Bouncin' all around
Up and down the cheap side of town.
Maybe were a little too old
T' be actin' that young.
Maybe we were just flyin' up
T some flat top hill
That Jack 'n Jill 'n Jekyll 'n Hyde
Were never meant or supposed t' climb.
Maybe we got too scared
Or we got too dumb.
But somewhere somehow
The Cat in the Hat
Had t' pack up his stuff
Head out the door,
Never t' be seen no more.
Santa Claus ain't comin' t' town
And Rudolph,
He's gone into early retirement.
Now it's just some lonesome guy
Singin' some lonesome song
Off some lonesome bridge
Down near Troubled Town,
And fog, it's a-comin' down.
But as I stand all straight and tall-like
And leave the soggy swings a-swayin',
All I know is it's 'cuz you giggled,
'Cuz in the end
That was all.

Josh Kanary

from June, 2000 issue