COYVILLE GRANDPA


HIS HAIR WAS WHITE, HE HAD A BIG SWEDISH NOSE
AND HE WAS GENTLE AND KIND
THE CHILDREN ALL CALLED HIM THE "COYVILLE GRANDPA"
AND I KNOW HE IS STILL ON THEIR MIND.
HE WAS THE TOWN BNLACKSMITH, HE HAD HOLES IN HIS CLOTHES
AND HE LIVED IN THE OLD SWEDISH WAYS.
HIS WORK AND THE CHILDREN THAT LIVED IN THE TOWN
ARE WHAT FILLED HIS BACHELOR-LIKE DAYS.

HE LIVED ALL ALONE IN A RUN-DOWN OLD HOUSE
WITH AN OLD FASHIONED OUTHOUSE IN BACK.
BUT HE ALWAYS HAD LOVE FOR THE KIDS THAT CAME TO SEE HIM
WHEATHER IT WAS BILLY, JIM, TINA OR JACK.
HE HAD CHILDREN OF HIS OWN THAT WERE ALL GROWN AND MARRIED
AND LIVING AWAY FROM HOME.
BUT HE WAS COYVILLE GRANDPA TO ALL THE KIDS IN TOWN
AND THEY LOVED HIM AS IF HE WERE REALLY THEIR OWN.

NOW OLD SWEDE WAS KIND HEARTED AND EVERYONE KNEW IT
THE GROWN-UPS AND CHILDREN ALIKE.
HE'D HELP OUT NEW FAMILIES THAT MOVED INTO TOWN
AND MEMDED THE KID'S BROKEN BIKES.
AS SWEDE GREW OLDER, HIS LIFE ABOUT OVER
HE SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME WITH THE KIDS.
THE COYVILLE GRANDPA GREW WEAKER AND SLOWER
THEY ALL KNEW HIS LIFE HAD BEEN LIVED.

EVERYONE CRIED AND THEY KNEW THEY WOULD MISS HIM
WHEN OLD SWEDE DRIFTED AWAY.
THE CHAPEL WAS PACKED, THEY EVEN STOOD IN THE HALL
AND ALL UP THE AISLE ON THAT DAY.
THEY WERE ALL THERE, THE OLD AND THE YOUNG
WITH TEARS FOR THAT DADDY OF MINE,
TO SEE HIM ONE MORE TIME AND SAY
"COYVILLE GRANDPA, GOODBYE!"

(C) F.M. WEBB