A Game My Grandpa Played

He had twelve children
and his children had ten or more

he had over one hundred grandchildren
and each, when they were babies,
played his game of Pon Pon.

He wrapped his arm around the infant
sitting on his lap then he would

take one hand with an outstretched finger

and put it into the opposing palm and sing

pon, pon cabe son

then he would lift the hand 
touch the forehead

then lift it and touch it again

sas cabecita

sas cabeson.

The words are how I remember them

my mom said they meant:

put, put in your hand

then hit your head

and hit it again.

Those who know Spanish

say I might have the words wrong
but all the same, I remember the game fondly,
recalling his tobacco smell and smooth hands

once a farmer but after his wife's death
stopped doing manual labor
waiting for his own life to end
but he lived until he was 99

playing that child’s game
with great grandchildren 

and great, great grandchildren.

There is little I remember about him
although his daughters feared him
and his sons treated him with respect.
A medium sized man, dressed in dark gray

always wearing 
a fedora styled hat
and dress shoes
he seem to have a lot to say

to those grandkids who understood Spanish

other than the little game 
he played with the babies
in our household he never said much
because we only spoke English.

He loved to eat my mother’s cooking
his favorite, chili and beans 
with little pieces of steak
and lots of homemade tortillas.

The farmlands of his youth
were sold for several thousand dollars
supported his retirement along with checks

from social security and retirement 
from the railroads.

Imagine growing up so long ago
living a life full of adventures
and the only story left for your 

grandchildren to remember

is a little child’s song

with the words all wrong

pon, pon cabe son

sas cabecita

sas cabeson.