Old Men Still Climb Trees

We sat around in the spring time
a group of us
enjoying the breeze
And there came the old man down the road
a limp in his step
a few teeth gone
and a crazed look of determination
in his right eye

One glance at the old TV we sat around
the old thing, barely held together
duct tape strapped to the antenna
one glance and he said,
"I can fix this."
Fix what?
but asking was futile
he grabbed the TV and took off

We stood to watch
saw him limp to the nearest tree
an old maple, stripped on one side
a fungus would have it dead by next spring.
And yet, for all his weakness
even with a limp, and with old muscles
he grabbed the lowest branch
TV still under one arm
and swung himself into the tree.

A minute or so went by
a few twigs hit the ground
the green leaves twitched
we heard a rustle
and then, with a thud
he dropped to the ground.
Again with a limp,
and a crazy, misshapen grin
he strode back over to us
set the TV back down, and said
"You have better reception now."