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About This Poem

Orphan's Gift

That’s me there, the orphan,
the incomplete son of a dead man,
mother’s blue veins 
now solid as porcelain. 

When I was a young man of purpose
I went to my father’s grave
to take a photo of his aura. 
I expected an emanance, something
I hadn’t known of his life, 
but I was alone, 

just me and three graves:
his (I barely knew him),
my grandfather (a difficult man),
my stepfather (who never mattered).

There is a stone for my father,
none for the other two 
in that mass grave,
as if they never existed.

My mother designed
her death in advance,
“pre-planning” it’s called,
but she left the details 
to me, so

on the stone beside my father 
I gave back my father’s name,
my name,
her name before and now again
for as long as the dirt stays 
and isn’t tossed over the edge. 

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  1. Date: 3/23/2013 5:49:00 PM

    Jack, Congratulations with your Featured Poem of the week. Wishing you the best this new coming week. Take care :-) Linda

    Jordan Avatar Jack Jordan Date: 3/23/2013 6:48:00 PM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Thank you. I was very surprised. I hope your weekend is a good one. Jack
  1. Date: 1/16/2013 9:15:00 AM

    I can feel the pain in the work that you have passionately written..Sara

    Jordan Avatar Jack Jordan Date: 1/16/2013 9:42:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    It took me a couple of decades to write it. Thanks for the perceptive comments. Jack