For My Father

Beyond the hill and the crest, you gave me what I want Just skipping rocks and a walk around the pond. “I spent an hour with you, should I want anything else?” One grin and wink like the neon on the liquor store We were sixteen, maybe less, maybe a little more I walked home smiling, I finally had a story to tell And though an autumn-time lullaby sang our new-born love to sleep My brother told me, he saw you there In the woods one Christmas Eve, waiting I met my wife at a party when I drank too much My son is married and tells me we don’t talk enough Call it predictable, yesterday my dream was of you Beyond the ridge to the west, the sun had left the sky Between the trees and pond you put your hand in mine Said, “Time has bridled us both but I remember you, too”