<div class="line">“Bought them in a minute and a half,” he says,</div>
<div class="line">“for thirty-three dollars Canadian.”</div>
<div class="line">My father proudly shows me his new shoes,</div>
<div class="line">which I admire.</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">The next day he asks me to try them on.</div>
<div class="line">He wants to give them to me.</div>
<div class="line">I wiggle my left big toe against the leather.</div>
<div class="line">“A little large,” I say.</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">I have given my father many gifts—birthday dinners,</div>
<div class="line">daily telephone calls, vacations, a new car.</div>
<div class="line">My father has given me genes for a long life,</div>
<div class="line">the values of thrift, generosity, and honesty,</div>
<div class="line">but the greatest gift is his pride and confidence in me.</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">Today my father says,</div>
<div class="line">“I appreciate everything you have given me.</div>
<div class="line">There’s just one thing …”</div>
<div class="line">“Yes? I ask.</div>
<div class="line">“I only wish,” he sighs, “that my father had accepted</div>
<div class="line">what I tried to give to him.”</div>


Wide-Hipped Women in Stucco

Last Reach

My Father’s Shoes

<div class="line">torment doesn’t wound</div>
<div class="line">terribly, terribly soon</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">when dribbled slowly</div>
<div class="line">in or out of tune—</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">hush by hush</div>
<div class="line">rune by rune</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">until this dish</div>
<div class="line">ran away with a spoon</div>


Super Dad Haiku

Call Me By My Name

Stainless

<div class="line">We met in rooms</div>
<div class="line">for the very sad time</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">the home we shared</div>
<div class="line">for thirty-odd years.</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">Our tears were not</div>
<div class="line">for all we had lost,</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">but washed against</div>
<div class="line">all that might have been.</div>


The Climb

The Nets

Today

Channellock Pliers

After Easter

A Conversation with Daniel Berrigan

<div class="line">Now into limbo depth of time</div>
<div class="line">Is fled that soul which had a man</div>
<div class="line">And silent, empty, earth pressed bone</div>
<div class="line">Remains, to learn decay alone.</div>
<div></div>
<div class="line">Where to, where from, where hence, where gone</div>
<div class="line">None other knows, or cares, or can,</div>
<div class="line">A grab bag chance, a sack of skin,</div>
<div class="line">To mask our come, and going in.</div>


A Prayer for Ducks

Enchilada Night

Ashes to …

<p style="padding-left: 0px;"><strong>TOFU FOO</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 0px;">How to eat a<br />
tofu hot dog?<br />
Laden the bun<br />
with mustard<br />
and BBQ sauce<br />
and onion,<br />
close your eyes,<br />
chew and swallow.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">__________</p>
<p style="padding-left: 0px;"><strong>TOFU FOO TWO</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 0px;">I’ll say it straight—<br />
I don’t like tofu.<br />
I already<br />
said that<br />
in “Tofu Foo” but this title<br />
is too good to pass up.<br />
Does Bishop Tutu<br />
foo tofu two too?</p>


Shopping Cart
items

January 9, 2013Two PoemsAlan Fox

Sign up for our Newsletter

January 9, 2013Two PoemsAlan Fox

Related

My Father’s Shoes by Alan Fox

Stainless by Alan Fox

Today by Alan Fox

A Conversation with Daniel Berrigan by Alan Fox