March to the Mailbox

A walk to the mailbox

A quick 15 steps to the brick building

Holding bills and a birthday card

The young man opens the door

Without a knock

Another year has gone by

–

A journey to the mailbox

Joints aren’t working like they used to

Tears in his eyes

Doctor’s bills in hand

Five figure numbers

A negative prognosis

–

An expedition to the mailbox

Accompanied by a metal assistant

Its hooves made blunt by tennis balls

The jerking motion angry

As he makes his way slowly

To a place where letters dare not go

I love y’all, but I hope this pulled some tears from you. I’m 18 now, but it seems as if ever since I was 10 we’d drive past this man’s house and we’d see him shuffling to his mailbox. I     hadn’t seen him in at least two years and tonight I saw him again and it just struck me as so poetic. This is dedicated to him.