For The Parental Units Poem by onoma eirene

My Walls are Naked

My walls are naked
above an unfamiliar bed
the alarm screams in the morning
when your voice should call instead
singing rise and shine
its time to rise and greet the day
but instead the snooze button whines
so i shuffle on my way
the bathroom is just across the hall
just like it used to be
and when i linger in the shower stall
your not there to pester me
skipping breakfast
has always been a cardinal sin
but now my fast keeps lasting
till far after the days begin.
but im pretty healthy it would make you proud
plenty of color on my plate
and milk to wash it down
“a little that, a little this”
everything in moderation
this is bad. i might even miss
your incessant photographic preservation
as i remember fondly
occasionally with a tear or two
as i struggle with the laundry
and all the things you used to do
like always loving me
even when i was completely out of control
so even if my walls are empty
know that my heart is full.

_______

Thank You Father

Thank you father
padre, pops, and daddy too
for all that you have done
all that neither of us even knew
for your constant love even when i didn’t earn it
for teaching all your lessons even if i didn’t learn it
that life is more then just living
the truth is better then a freeing lie
that theres more to life then everything
and that real men arent afraid to cry
for holding me when i was little
for showing me to butter popcorn in the middle
for letting me jump in puddles
for putting up with me when i would yell
for giving me space to struggle
and strength for when i fell
so thank you Father
for my padre, pops, and daddy who
has blessed me by calling me son
and all that he continues to do