Men & Crying

Crying in the Movies is about fathers, sons, loss and grief.

And here’s a poem which is related.

Luminous

Yes, since you ask, my father is dead

I took the call from the hospital

I went to the funeral and did the talking

Held my mother among the mourners

Really, there can be no doubt about it

And, I haven’t seen him around for a while

So, that’s the clincher.

But, now I come here to think of it

I did see him yesterday

In the hallway of the old house

As a removal man walked past

Carrying his face

And leaving a short, silent, dad-cast

In the miniature cinema of the coat-stand mirror.

And, this morning, I found him hiding in a letter

Coming into the open in its unfolding

He stayed out for most of the day;

He walked with me

He held the saw when I cut wood

And coasting the car in neutral

He saved the gearbox.

I like this new dad, whiffling along

In the weave of the day

He doesn’t shout anymore, say I’m stupid

He’s given up telling me I’m clumsy

There’s no more “Do You Understand!?”

I can find him in the darkness,

He’s just luminous enough.