in 1984 i carved into a
2×4 the words
hapy b-day dad
and placed in on the last step
of the porch so he’d see
it when he got home
i waited all day
cuz i wanted to
see the face of my
father as he
returned to the trailer
with the kids waiting
for cake and milk
a rather fancy
night for the
poor kids in Prescott
but he worked all
day into the night
minimum wage only goes
so far
and he worked another
shift when
he needed to
and he needed to
school was quickly approaching
and we needed our wrangler jeans
and a couple shirts
so i was dead asleep
when that datsun pulled on in
to the dirty drive way that
lead to home
but i felt his kiss
on my cheek wake me
before he could leave,
i asked if we could have a
catch tomorrow,
and he said sure,
son.
