Hubert

I am thirty
Something
Sitting at a
Break table on
A morning with Hubert
Jimmy and John when Jimmy
Relates how a young man once
Rushed up to Hubert’s desk holding
Out a handful of papers the young
Man said were an emergency but
Hubert never raised his head or
Acknowledged the young man
Or his papers until several
Minutes passed then he
Reached one arm up
Never looking up he
Tapped his 30 year
Award signifying
He could leave
Whenever he
Felt like it so
Do not tell
Him it is
A big
Deal
Until he
Is ready at
Which point
The young man
Placed the papers
On Hubert’s desk and
Withdrew a wiser youngster.
These three were kind enough
To guide me at what became in
Time TXDOT and I am still grateful.
One morning break I sauntered up
To the break table where they
Sat saying Cindy had had
Her baby and named it
Hubert at which point
Hubert put his fist to
His chest and said
It’s the big one
Convulsing
The table
In rare
Laughter
Unlike Hubert’s
Facade of lemon
Sucking sarcasm
All an act to disguise
A fine old Texas gentleman.