Dad Poem by Kyle Schlicher

he was there
and
then
he wasn't,

sometimes disappearing
for
months
at
a
time.

in and out
of
va hospitals.

bar hopping.

missing in action
for
sure.

we never really
knew
him,

we could never
see
into
him,
he would not allow this.

he withheld his feelings.

he never uttered the word

' LOVE '

that we know of.

we never saw him cry
except
for the times
he
revisited the island of iwo.

this was our father.

he was there
and
yet
he wasn't.

(5-02-1972)