Grandma and Grandpa Bollman lived on Brookline in Mount Washington.
Grandpa would take us to fly kites in a field
which would one day become Beechmont mall

Memories of dad’s dad are few

Looking over his glasses at us
dark skin in summer
his smile a bright white contrast

The garage was his workshop

He invented things there,
like the kite string winder that prevented tangles and string burns
 
One hot day he steps away from his work,  hooks up the hose for us 
a stream of water runs down a valley in the driveway
making a temporary river for stick boats to float swift and wild 

Heavenly cool in bare feet.