Norman Olson
Norman Olson
My old boyfriend from high school
I've been thinking about you
And how we sat in your car those summer evenings
In North Dakota.
You said you planned to stay right there
And run your daddy's dairy farm
And then you looked at me
You said, "So then---- I spose you'll go to U.N.D."
I felt your hand go up my leg and stop there at my left kneecap.
The summer night was so serene
And you and I were so eighteen, eighteen
O lovely Norman
Your hand upon my knee
Your hand upon my knee
And then you said, "It's late.
We should go.
We should go.
Norman Olson
Norman Olson
You got married to Lois
And you had six children and gained some weight and you lost most of your hair
Lost most of your hair.
And I went to Detroit with Ray
And started selling real estate
Still I often think of you
That night, your hand went halfway up my leg and stopped
And time stood still a moment and then you took your hand away.
The summer night was so serene
The smell of sweet corn and soybeans, soybeans,
O lovely Norman
Your hand upon my knee
Your hand upon my knee
And then the moment passed.
Long ago.
So long ago.
© Garrison Keillor 2001