And so uncle Manny
smoked cigars and whenever
at the age of
three we visited their
home in Port Washington
I remember opening the
door and being struck
by that manly associated
aroma followed by my
Aunt Jeanette’s arms and
Tippy’s cold wet nose
Cigars then became to
me and continue to
do the odor of
family and love and
of support for while
my own family life
was abysmal filled with
hate bigotry and ignorance
there in Port Washington
and with the cigars
came love and affection
Category: Family
WomenGirls
And I’m sitting here
with four generations of
women and as surprising
as to me being
a man they appear
to be just girls
girls talking about girls
things painting their nails
and hairstyles and dresses
I don’t think that
I can describe just
how cute and beautiful
they all really are
AlwaysDoes
I didn’t think I
was but I am
I thought by thinking
that I wasn’t then
I really wasn’t but
when in fact and
in reality I am
I am looking for
love again but having
looked for it before
and it not being
true my looking is
now shielded as though
I haven’t yet discovered
the bomb but know
it’s there so I’m
already covering my eyes
Oh please don’t let
it hurt this time
for my body now
is less of me
and more the shrapnel
I’ve absorbed by way
of the previous explosions
Day
The day started early
as days are known
to do filled with
promises and with problems
promises of mine and
problems of others but
this day like every
other day is sure
to be filled with
laughter and with disappointment
as we all know
that days are only
ever really about us
Family
The lights of night
in the city and
its sounds are like
two attention starved brothers
one the lights quiet
calm and studious while
the other the sounds
are raucous bold and
defiant the sounds requiring
immediate attention while the
lights tend to be
satisfied by themselves the
sounds only increase with
age taunting howling as
the day grows hotter
while the lights politely
give way to the
sun and finally disappear
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 