“Grandma’s Apron and Grandpa’s Vest”
GRANDMA'S APRON
SMELLED LIKE BLEACH
AND MARTHA WHITE FLOUR
SOMETIMES SHE'D REACH
DOWN INTO THE POCKET
AND PULL OUT A TREAT
SAYIN, "HOW ABOUT
A LITTLE SOMETHING SWEET."
IT MIGHT BE A SUGAR COOKIE
OR A PIECE OF FUDGE
I COULD FEEL THE WARMTH
I COULD FEEL THE LOVE
GRANDMA BAKED
INTO EVERY BATCH
WEARING THAT APRON
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
IT WAS ALL COTTON
SOFT AND WORN
USED TO LET ME USE IT
FOR MY SUPERMAN CAPE
AND HELD ME BEHIND IT
WHEN IT THUNDER STORMED
GRANDMA'S APRON HAD POWER
GRANDMA'S APRON HAD GRACE
GRANDPA'S VEST
WAS COURDOROY
WE'D WATCH OLD WESTERNS
IN HIS LAZY BOY
HE'D REACH IN THE POCKET
AND PULL OUT A TOY.
SAYING," MY SIDEKICKS'
BEEN A GOOD BOY"
IT MIGHT BE A MARBLE
LIKE THE EYE OF A CAT
OR A WHISTLE FROM A BOX
OF CRACKERJACKS
THAT VEST HELD
HIS SWEET SURPRISES
THAT CAME WITH A WINK
FROM HIS TWINKLING EYE
HE USED TO LET ME WEAR IT
WHEN I RODE MY STICK HORSE PONY
CHASING DOWN OUTLAWS
BADGE ON MY CHEST
AND WHEN WE TOOK NAPS
IN HIS LAZY BOY
YOU KNOW GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW THE COWBOY WAY
GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW TENDERNESS
SO WHEN IT CAME TIME
TO DIVIDE THEIR THINGS
BROTHER WANTED THE CAR
SISTER WANTED THE RINGS
I SAID I WANT THEY WAY
THEY LOVED AND BLESSED
GIVE ME GRANDMA'S APRON
AND GRANDPA'S VEST.
NOW MY LADY
WILL WEAR GRANDMA'S APRON
BAKING SUGAR COOKIES
WHEN THE GRANDKIDS COME
I’LL WEAR GRANDPA'S VEST
IN MY LAZY BOY
GRANDKIDS ON MY LAP
I PULL OUT A TOY
WHILE WE'RE WATCHING
GENE AND ROY,
AND THE DUKE, HOPPILONG CASSSIDY, THE CISCO KID, THE LONE RANGER, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, GUNSMOKE, WAGON TRAIN, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, RAWHIDE, CHEYENE, THE RIFLEMAN, THE REBEL, MAVERICK, LAWMAN……