My parents are standing back to back. Mom is having problems standing, leaning against the wall, but that’s because of grief. Dad is having problems standing because he drank too much. 

I approach, the parents standing back to back, a space between like a canyon. I traverse the canyon to get to the kitchen. I squeeze through. Mom is crying with her back turned to Dad so Dad doesn’t see. I know this. I can feel it.

Dad asks why. Dad doesn’t seem to know, while everyone else knows. Of course everyone else knows. Friday night was a sensation and it hurt just about everyone. The sensation began on the subject of parenting. 

Halfway there now

And last night when we stood in the old spots

There was rain and booze

And a whole lot of poetry.

My best efforts were made to leave you

and now I realized I need you

Take the old drunken walk for me

Remind me of every step

Describe the white door to nowhere

The diagonal across

The sit down steps where you bled

This is the big end

One of many that will come before

the biggest of them all

I swear there was nothing I could do

That’s what I tell myself

So I don’t start crying these useless salty tears