-And you said,
"What if he's deceased?
At least you'll know."
Rushing off to work.

My mind
flashed a full scene
of southern sunlight
on my face.
You shut the front door,

and

I sat in front of a tombstone.
Maybe in Kentucky.
Not reading a name,
or anything ingraved.
Just thinking of what I might say
to my father.

Neutral thoughts
shake bitterness
from an unshaken hand;
and I peer into a tombstone,
same as I might peer
into the void of someone's eyes.

"All my life I've seen you in the mirror.
Never, have I seen your face.
do you know what one picture
could have done,
for one man-
Your son!"