Father

Once you had arms that held me so tight Once you had legs that stood up for right Once you had eyes that could see in the dark Once your strong hands plotted courses to chart Once we would walk and the birds would proclaim Once we would sing and the heavens refrained Once we thought time was our servant and slave Once, before war we forgot and forgave Now that you’re gone, my memory’s gone dark Now that you’re gone, paths unwalked in the park Now that you’re gone, surname given and fast Now that you’re gone —my heart beats in the past (Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2020)