Etched Mirror
He was a giant with wavy hair wearing a pair of Stacy Adams
He tried to teach me, his non-conformist son
He was never on the run, he was ever having fun
I was locked up in me, envy maybe?
Wanting to be him one day, not likely.
But in spite of me I was, I fought the genetic inevitability
I watched him shave, I watched him lather his face
The blade scraped and made this sound
Tiny black hairs on porcelain abound
That laughter and that smile
I watched his habits good and bad
He was the Father some young men never have
I miss him now, love him still
Some see me and get chills
He tried to teach me, his non-conformist son
He was never on the run, he was ever having fun
I was locked up in me, envy maybe?
Wanting to be him one day, not likely.
But in spite of me I was, I fought the genetic inevitability
I watched him drink, I knew his pockets would be like brinks
I capitalized on the stink from his pores
He drank till there was no more
There he was passed out on the floor
Mom was a little sore, but she helped him up
and man could he snore
He took me out on tours of his favorite haunts
Sides of his family with cousins and Aunt’s
Down in the country folk , with a **** well and some goats
He tried to teach me, his non-conformist son
He was never on the run, he was ever having fun
I was locked up in me, envy maybe?
Wanting to be him one day, not likely.
But in spite of me I was, I fought the genetic inevitability
They poured and he drank, then I heard boy that’s your cousin
Here I’m thinking I’m bout to get some country lovin
This non-conformist was genetically rearranging
Little by little I was becoming more engaging
I heard him say this one time
“Boy don’t tell your Mama” and he walked upstairs but I was quiet
Maybe I was more like him than I should
I was only five but understood
The mirror etched was more than a reflection
It was a connection to his soul, my sons like me I’m told
He’s a non-conformist and it shows
He’ll have his own tales to weave
And though I no longer grieve
That day I saw my father shave
Will forever be a part of me