BALLPOINTING FOR DAD

 

On The Third Fridays
When
Mom Allowed Visits
He’d Open
His Flange
 Of
Port

After
 
Walking Home
 From
The Plant

Dad
Would Ask Me
Tell Me

“Write a Letter To Your Mother”

 Pleading Promises,

Never Beat Her
Never Sip Port

Again

Cowardly
I Kept

I Was Happy
Mom Left

The Swelling
Sipping
Both On Ice

Never Went Down

Words
 From Pressure
 Rolled Still
Off
My Ballpoint

Love,
Baby,
 Honey,
 Please
Promise
Next Payday

Promise Send Money

Dad
Dad

Breathing Over Me
Unable to Read
 Noiseless Work
Of
Ballpoints

I Wonder If Mom
Laughed
Or
Cried

 Releasing
 Ball-pointed Paper
Over
Gas and Fire

Dad
Could Only Sign
His Name

X

But
He'd Read Blueprints
And
Build
Build
Build
Man’s Machines
Down at The Plant

 This Man

Dad
Father

Who Stole Roses
& Hyacinth
Decorating His
Small Yard
 
Now Alone

Eyes Clinched
Balled Fists,
Neck Veined

Labors Simple Words

 Almost………

 

………………………………..Almost

 

Redeemed

GEEPROCESSOR