father awakened
beckoned by bathroom in night
his death approaching like headlights in
rear-view
in cars he careened into cornfields so
long ago
in women he obsessed over
poured over while rolling tea
in records he flips through
languidly
suffering alone, retracting into song
crucifix still hung over his jaded bedpost
lotion still sits on by his bed
where he lay debased and tempted
by nothing
while his house breaths fissures
and crumbles
where his legacy sits truncated and dusted
in books of song
carpet collecting impressionistic stains
stove top counting days with soot
medicine cabinet reminds of his frivolous
youth
when he was foolish and paid bills
before he was afraid to climb his creaking
stairs
before he delivered flowers to the funeral
home
before the acetaminophen ate his soul
May 14, 2019
May 14, 2019 at 6:33 PM UTC
father awakened
beckoned by bathroom in night
his death approaching like headlights in
rear-view
in cars he careened into cornfields so
long ago
in women he obsessed over
poured over while rolling tea
in records he flips through
languidly
suffering alone, retracting into song
crucifix still hung over his jaded bedpost
lotion still sits on by his bed
where he lay debased and tempted
by nothing
while his house breaths fissures
and crumbles
where his legacy sits truncated and dusted
in books of song
carpet collecting impressionistic stains
stove top counting days with soot
medicine cabinet reminds of his frivolous
youth
when he was foolish and paid bills
before he was afraid to climb his creaking
stairs
before he delivered flowers to the funeral
home
before the acetaminophen ate his soul
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