Father
You die tiny deaths inside my head
Each time I think a thought
That somehow
Borrows your breath
Your grip inside my mind is tensile
Ready to spring
Without notice
And clamp on any innocent thought
And without warning
You loom large
Without precedent
Without permission
I can’t garner comfort in words
I can’t hide in songs
The marrow of my soul
Because they are yours
Those are your dark corners
The places you seek ease
And if I follow
I’m afraid it’s you I’ll find
You have given me my voice
And stolen it
Both in equal measure
And now I am silently screaming
And I feel as I did at 8 years old
Watching you walk away
Except now I understand
More than I ever wanted
Copyright © Jesse Andrews | Year Posted 2011
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