I was wearing my dark grey, ribbed, mock turtleneck
and my sleeveless, houndstooth, button-up dress
because I wanted to look special for your visit
I showed you my dorm room
and then we sat in the lounge
and Mom snapped a picture
with my head on your shoulder
You had come to see me because I had been suffering acutely
and you wanted me to know that you were there to support me
When I think back to the moments of solidarity
I shared with my father before he died
I realize he is "there" in all future moments of suffering
And then I think about the moments of jubilation
like when I wept while reading my "Why My Choice is Life" essay
at the Birthright convention
He wept too
so that means even though you were gone by the time
I adapted, produced, and directed my first play
and gave away my kidney
You were still there
And that is such a comfort
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Saturday, December 8, 2018
AN EDUCATION
That week I slept on the sofa bed
I was too brokenhearted and miserable to sleep in my own room
Dark and devoid of the distraction afforded by television
While I realize now that the tears I shed were wholly wasted
on a man undeserving of my grief
at the time, I sobbed in anguish so loudly
that your fears of being useless
were flooded by the need to do something to comfort me
When you sat on the edge of the pull-out bed,
I asked you
Dad, should I marry him?
If he loves you
was your reply
Not if you love him
but IF HE LOVES YOU
And then you made me a cup of tea
I was too brokenhearted and miserable to sleep in my own room
Dark and devoid of the distraction afforded by television
While I realize now that the tears I shed were wholly wasted
on a man undeserving of my grief
at the time, I sobbed in anguish so loudly
that your fears of being useless
were flooded by the need to do something to comfort me
When you sat on the edge of the pull-out bed,
I asked you
Dad, should I marry him?
If he loves you
was your reply
Not if you love him
but IF HE LOVES YOU
And then you made me a cup of tea
Monday, November 19, 2018
HELL, YEAH
I tip my glass to the sign
"Make the most out of every day"
Does that mean drink a whole bottle of wine
and dance in the kitchen
Or something else?
"Make the most out of every day"
Does that mean drink a whole bottle of wine
and dance in the kitchen
Or something else?
Friday, March 16, 2018
TRACING MY HANDS
I have my father's hands
but now I wonder
who else's hands do I have?
were they my grandfather's
or my grandmother's?
and then
were they my grandfather's father's
or grandfather's mother's?
or my grandmother's father's
or grandmother's mother's?
which branch of the family tree do my hands dangle from?
and could I trace them all the way back
to wheels and caves
or ever farther
but now I wonder
who else's hands do I have?
were they my grandfather's
or my grandmother's?
and then
were they my grandfather's father's
or grandfather's mother's?
or my grandmother's father's
or grandmother's mother's?
which branch of the family tree do my hands dangle from?
and could I trace them all the way back
to wheels and caves
or ever farther
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