There are certain
rituals men have
for me one
of my favorites
is the elegant
brush soap razor
it’s the anticipation
I think that
reminds me of
my father’s face
seen in mirror
miles above me
sitting on the
floor at feet
and this tradition
I now carry
but now it’s
you standing in
the doorway wearing
my last night’s
shirt smelling of
me coffee cup
in hand giggling
ohh you guys
trying to be
all grown up
and just as
quickly as a
flytrap snapping shut
I pull you
in covering your
face with soap
saying and now
you are too
Category: Parents
MeMirror
I have enjoyed a
great life filled with
adventure and many opportunities
I have felt loved
and I have given
love and I have
laughed
not just at things
or at others or
at other’s things but
at myself as well
And now as I
sit in this my
last phase of life
I spend most time
in front of the
mirror and reflecting most
upon my wrinkles for
it is within them
where I can see
all of the others
who’ve walked with me
Cigars
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
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
BeingAnything
Being anything with yourself
is harder than being
anything with anyone else
Let’s start with forgiveness
forgiving others is easy
we all do it
all of the time
But when was the
last time that you
forgave yourself or let’s
try selfishness we all
have been selfish with
others but when was
the last time you
allowed yourself to be
selfish with you being
almost anything with yourself
is in fact the
cornerstone of your happiness
No not your happiness
with others but only
your happiness with yourself
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 