Prediction

Prediction
1978

Sultry Ohio late afternoon
sun reflecting on the river’s curve
cocktails on my parents’ patio
gin and tonic for my folks
Añejo rum on the rocks for me

Bird just turned four
in blue-jean overalls
his lopsided crawl, big
drooly grin, grabs
his granddaddy’s knee
pulling to stand, reaches
for his ginger ale
See how he’s on his toes?
Doctors don’t think 
he’ll walk, I say

Dad snags Bird’s hands
dwarfed by his beefy ones
This boy will walk, he says,
no doubt
Last pronouncement he made
dead the next day