I put the phone on your side of the bed
you thought I was predicting your father's death
mistook a letter from my mom
for one from your dad
said what was SHE going to do with some
corpse in the house?
you play tennis with grace and placement
I serve like your old man
and trap the ball with my racket
two best of fives
plus some
a man who couldn't command
and wasn't trained
didn't know how to study
properly
and liked junk and was still trying to
pawn it
who vacuumed the street
to get it clear of dirt
bracing for the punch
expecting me to start yelling
instead I said
how he's probably more dangerous
now than ever
it's wrong to lay into the dying
Dad, I'm
not upset at you anymore
for not having what I needed
but I just don't want
what you got now
Your email said simply
"Has something changed?"
asterisk:
order flowers
2011
I like this. I like the conversation with the dad part. Sounds like acceptance to me. Was thinking i think things like that...but don't necessarily say them. Now thinking I want a bumper sticker. :D
ReplyDeleteMy partner's problems bring out similar things in myself, in this case bringing the old scores up to the present, seeing them there in their old soreness, needing nothing more from them at the time and grateful for it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I like that, I want a bumer sticker too: "Has something changed?" :)