Selected Poems
Helen
Another early industrial Saturday morning.
Up and out of the house, before a sun
that failed to break a steel grey sky.
We leave bangers and rashers to keep
the pony dog quiet and not to wake anyone.
Before the road trip to visit his unknown son.
Himself defied morality. The other woman
was named Helen. We still see breached walls
smell the burning towers of a wrecked home.
We defied gravity and watch rain drops run up
the windshield, in waves. We speed past pines through
towns with unpronounceable Unkechaug names.
New stepbrother and his half sister fight.
A bit confusing for a sleepy six-year-old
who simply knew wrong from right.
Scent of All-American burger and fries
fills the cabin of our car, on a silent ride home.
There were hush meals way before there were happy meals.
Road trips stopped, after Helen moved to Troy.
Step on a crack and break your mother's back.
Bastard son with a tart/ You break your mother's heart.
Because grandma said so. Some secrets mother should never know.
Up and out of the house, before a sun
that failed to break a steel grey sky.
We leave bangers and rashers to keep
the pony dog quiet and not to wake anyone.
Before the road trip to visit his unknown son.
Himself defied morality. The other woman
was named Helen. We still see breached walls
smell the burning towers of a wrecked home.
We defied gravity and watch rain drops run up
the windshield, in waves. We speed past pines through
towns with unpronounceable Unkechaug names.
New stepbrother and his half sister fight.
A bit confusing for a sleepy six-year-old
who simply knew wrong from right.
Scent of All-American burger and fries
fills the cabin of our car, on a silent ride home.
There were hush meals way before there were happy meals.
Road trips stopped, after Helen moved to Troy.
Step on a crack and break your mother's back.
Bastard son with a tart/ You break your mother's heart.
Because grandma said so. Some secrets mother should never know.
