Drinking With Mickey Mantle

When i was five i was king of the yard, and my grandfather said

I had one hell of an arm. i remember learning his split-finger

Fastball, and all the tales he would stretch with that famous

Turner charm. and by the fire pit in my old backyard, i used to

Sit transfixed by his stories. about the time him and mickey

Mantle drank all night long, spinning yarns of all their former glories.

And i remember christmas eve when i was ten and ma told grandpa

He was wasting my time. she sent him packing in the pouring

Rain; things were never quite the same after that night. but in

The package he left under the tree was a new silver wristwatch

Addressed to his favorite grandson, henry.