Oh, Dad - July 13, 2025

you did an excellent job of shaping

my values and work ethica

a fair one of showing love

a poor one of building confidence

genius work, though, of transferring

your frugal, practical, tight-wallet ways

like you did, I patrol the house

shut down unused lights and fans

fight with my spouse over

new roofs and new furniture

and in general, support the necessary,

only if purchased at a good price

one morning though, after waking, 

I found the living room fan in full spin

I'd forgotten to turn it off the night before

so after the blood drained from my face

I turned to another face

“Dad, I’m sorry, but you never

lived long enough to reach

the gilded age of amnesia”