The Grump and the Angel

He is an old codger
Perpetually grumpy
And out of sorts,
Angry at the world
And the indignity
Of being housed
In an old folks home.
He has grown
Feeble with age
Though his mind
Remains sharp.
He is cantankerous
And full of complaints,
Driving most everyone away,
Everyone, that is, except
The Angel of the ward.
She is an incredible woman
With a heart of gold
Who seems oblivious
To his rage,
Tolerant of his temper,
And understanding
Of his childish efforts to rebel.
She never makes him wrong
For the way he is
And takes everything
He dishes out in stride.
Secretly I think he loves her,
And the attention she gives him,
But he is too darn ornery
To let it show.