That Damn Grin

That Damn Grin

       That Damn Grin What was I looking for? I don’t remember for I got distracted. My mind wandered onto a new page as it does quite often these days. But look what I found. Look at that grin. Not mine,  you fool – hers. Damn. I...

The First Time I Didn’t Cry

The First Time I Didn’t Cry Fear sometimes is like ice drenching your bowels with a paralyzing grip. How well I remember tho’ the years have softened the blow a bit.  A bit but not all for I remember sitting beneath the Stork Phone where happy fathers...

It Couldn’t Have Been You*

It Couldn’t Have Been You* The years play tricksand make me wonderif I really remember the way things wereor if sometimesI remember a version that doesn’t burnor open wounds anew.It is not a matter of merely forgettingdue to the years extracting their toll.No, it is...

What Am I Doing?

What Am I Doing? I hung up the phone His little voice still ringing in my ear “I love you, Dad.” And I want to scream Why am I here? What am I doing? I found the VCR tape today Of when he and I went to the canal To see all the tadpoles And baby frogs Just...

Unfiltered Pall Mall and a Can of Schlitz

Unfiltered Pall Mall and a Can of Schlitz “Come on in” he said,“but pardon the smellof smoke and cigarettes.We try to air it out but the smellwon’t go away”.I told him it didn’t matterthat I was immuneafter a childhood and many...