Marx

I am ten
Lying on the
Rug watching
Groucho Marx
On TV while my
Mother irons and
My elder sisters fold
Sheets and pillowcases
As an evening breeze flows
Through the open windows on
A hot muggy night in the southern
Part of Illinois known as Little
Egypt where at night you
Can hear the corn grow
And the birds cry in
Trees from the
Heat and the
Humidity.
Groucho asks
The couple on TV
What is miles and miles
And miles to which the young
Skinny airman’s eyes widen as he
Smiles and shouts That’s Texas!
And Groucho turns to the
Audience shakes his
Head and says yes
That is the right
Answer so a
Year later
We are
Transferred
Along with the
Air Training Command
To Randolph AFB in San Antonio
And it is miles and miles and miles.
I wonder from time to time about
How popular Groucho was in
America with his quick wit
And looks aside at his
Audience knowing
The value of a
Quips like if
You ask a
Man if he
Is honest
And he
Says
Yes then
Likely he is
A perfect crook.
It has taken me miles
And miles and miles to
See the wisdom in Groucho.