old crow grog

queer-with-a-pen

my first introduction to piracy

as a young lad

was that my father drank grog

 

one shot of old crow

a couple more splashes 

of lukewarm tap water

 

always on the rocks

swirled around once

and downed in a single swallow

 

i wonder if he drank

when i wasn’t around

but didn’t know how to ask

 

and really, how do you

ask your father if you’re the

reason he drinks?

 

and i haven’t seen

or heard from my father

since i was 18

 

but i know he stopped drinking

when i was 7

and i wonder who it was for

 

selfishly, of course

i’d like to think it was for me

but i know better now 

 

and it may not be his fault he didn’t

know how to be a proper father

but it hurts just the same

  • Author: Boaz Priestly (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: September 25th, 2020 00:07
  • Category: Letter
  • Views: 30
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Comments2

  • jarcher54

    My dad had four boys so of course he drank. I'm sorry yours didn't stick around. I enjoyed your reminiscences and sharing your feelings. A poem with raw yet controlled emotion is a lovely haunting thing. Thank you.

    • queer-with-a-pen

      Thank you for reading my work, and the condolences. I’ve resigned myself to quite a few things about my father, while also realizing none of those are my fault. It’s a mix of cathartic and melancholy to write about him.

    • Lorna

      The boy has a hard time separating the pain of hurtful parents....... you write so well...........

      • queer-with-a-pen

        Some things are easier said than done, even with poetic license. Thank you for reading so much of my work and leaving such kind and encouraging comments!



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