Curiously Out of Place

By Joseph McGowan

An old board sits on a shelf, curiously out of place
Next to half-burnt birthday candles, a worn hat,
An empty small white pill bottle and a spaceman
With a smile on his face

Three nails protrude out of the board their heads held high
Though each leaning slightly to the side
“Why would you keep a board with tree nails,” you ask
Well you see, my little boy made that for me.
Then holding the board in my hand I dust it off with pride.

You see. one nail’s me, one’s mommy, and the small one’s he
And I saved it because it was one of the first things
He ever made with his hands for me.

And the birthday candles and spaceman
Well, they’re my way of remembering him as a little boy.
For each one came atop a birthday cake,
and they tell a story as he grew throughout the years,
A story filled with laughter, birthday wishes and happy tears.

And the small white bottle, you ask, what could that possibly represent?
Well, I’ll tell you, he loved to play with it in the pool,
Fill it with water, pour it back out, a simple child’s game.
And when I look at this bottle, I can still see him playing,
Young and innocent.

And the hat, that’s a different story I’m sure you’d understand
It was given to me by my father,  it was his old motorcycle hat.
It meant a lot to him and that means a lot to me,
I will always cherish it.  I can tell you that.

For these old mementos, though a bit dusty,
Always tend to bring a smile to my face.
And wherever I go, somewhere in my house,
Will always sit an old board with three nails curiously out of place.