I Once Saw My Father

I once saw my father

though I never knew him in person

he came to me one night

his eyes taped up

blood stains on hiss weathered hands

we talked – well, I talked; he listened

I asked where he had gone all these years

of the things he had seen and dreamed

the loves he had and the hate he bore inside

he taped me on the head

had to go along, he said

and like that he walked into the night

I once saw my dad

and like that I woke up and cried.