A W O L

Now 'Absent without leave,' I know blood heirs cannot be more! And yet they're not to blame nor is the fault that clearly mine. When Cuba welcomed atom bomb, put Russians at our door And lucky meant you don't survive; resigned I thought, "that's fine!" To father any child (push life into the void) not fair! It seemed to me Hell found the earth (but maybe I was wrong?) In time (by luck?) things calmed, but parents died without son's heir, Without a grandchild's smile or slightest chance of future song. It's only now with thinning hair that I feel some regret, My genes will die (no latent breath), though poems bear my name. Perhaps some child will read a verse, and feel he's in my debt, And smiling, wish his dad, "Godspeed!?" May God's Grace end my shame! Long Tooth April 18, 2018