Haiku for My Father

John Blair

Adjunct Professor of English

1

My dad died in June

Or was it July I think

It was humid that day

2

Yet he passed at night

Saturday if I recall

Wait it was Friday

3

Last time I saw him

Emaciated and pale

Older than his years

4

I muttered goodbye

Tempted to whisper good riddance

A joke between us

5

Only I would laugh

Our relationship was absurd

I opt for silence

6

No confession to make

No absolution to give

My dad the stranger

7

I have yet to grieve

Where do I look for the tears

That have yet to come

8

Animosity

No just indifferent it seems

Our ties have dissolved

9

He said he loved me

Every time he broke my heart

His friends talk too much

10

My memories of him

I refuse to offer others

They are all I have

11

I stayed away from his

Funeral declining to

Reflect about him

12

That morning my man

I set aside for my friends

I am just like him