Today I wrote a book this very book you see
on the dinner table the very book your dad
dismissed you for reading at the dinner table
as you ate your dinner in silence as if noise
yes idle chatter like the sparrows in the bush
Identical to speech would keep you from reading
words printed on the page identical to these
read by you the reader written by me the dog
on the leash in the street pissing on a flat tire
take a moment to look into your father's eyes
eyes you will never see again once he is gone
as my own father died five years ago I know
brandy helps a bad cough but cannot cure cancer
overlook this fact cough cough at your own peril
only God knows what death has in store for us all
kiss your father goodnight once you leave the table
that he woke up today does not mean you will see
him alive tomorrow unless you just don't care
if your dad lives or dies then you are not above
suspicion if someone else decides to kill him
veracity keeps us from speaking about truth
everyone understands just how justice is blind
reality hides deep inside every pocket
you reach into for balls to play pocket billiards
but your dad doesn't care about words on the page
only the newspaper gives meaning and purpose
on the page to these words you read for him in bed
kiss him goodnight before he is gone forever
you see if you don't say goodbye to your father
on his deathbed you may never get this one chance
unless you just don't care then you may ignore him
see he helped give you life but that doesn't mean you
everlastingly owe a debt of gratitude
even if he raised you as a lion of pride
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