not listening to gramps

come sit near me,

sonny boy,

come listen to your gramps

before you

cut the grass.

let me tell you something,

nothing

ever gets cheaper.

i remember gas being 27 cents

per gallon.

a burger and fries

and a coke

was barely

a dollar,

a phone call a dime.

a scoop

of ice-cream

for a quarter, the movie

theater

ticket,

or to a ball game

a mere seventy-five cents.

a plug nickel for

a candy bar.

two cents for a stamp.

you're

not listening to me,

are you?

it's okay,

i understand.

now go on your way.

here's your fifty dollars

for mowing

my lawn.