Looking back, it's hard to fathom-
though we shrank from his garbled tantrums,
and we knew a large blob floated
in the vision of his right eye,
after his stroke we still let him
drive the family.
He was, after all, our father,
and when he asserted his rights,
none among us could oppose him.
With him behind the wheel,
we watched the angel of dumb luck
steer our full-of-family car
through hectic holiday traffic.
Just as before the stroke,
when his speech was unimpeded
and he ranted right-wing screeds-
we had to hold our breath.
Rights by Donald Levering | Garden Lavender Poetry Reed Diffuser Set
$15.00Price
Donald Levering's 17th poetry book, Man-Moth & The Gospel of Possibility, will be released in April 2026 from Poetry Playhouse Publications. He is a former NEA Fellow and winner of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Award. He lives with his artist wife, Jane Shoenfeld, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.
