Father's Day, 2007

North of the stateline I look like momma
Fair skin and ruddy cheeks
All reddish blonde hair and eyes of Kentucky blue
But down here in Tennessee I resemble the pater familias
And truthfully its something I aimed for
When I dug around in closets at the farm
To find high school football jerseys
And purple and gold letter jackets
Or weathered red suede sportcoats
And the sleek silver blades
Of hunting knives or the boxes
Of shotgun shells, sitting ready
For when their necessity might manifest itself
For these were the things he left when he left the land
Upon which he was raised
And took on the position of fatherhood
To Frank and Susan and me
And what a good one:
The Founder of the feast,
The voice in my ear as I tucked the ball
And sprinted down the field,
The driver who brought us all back home
From conquests and failures
Joyful times and pain
Which came in equal measure
But showing us that love is eternal
And necessary and flowing through us
Through his example.