me at three and dad just back from the war

START THE MUSIC

  Agitated, my mother, the panic of a
herded horse in her eyes,
mouthed to Gran,
"It's him and the door's locked."
"Let Pauly go," and I'm pushed
toward the rattling frame and
a knob I could barely reach.
I twisted it open and
you were on me in a rush
blunt fingered hands with
bitten nails snatched me up
into your chared aura,
smokey smelling wool uniform
rasped my cheeks and
I screamed to be turned loose.
Afterall, that was my first
smell of you. Later I
found out and
I am grateful now
for the beatings and especially
for the humiliations.
I would hate
to have to struggle with
missing you.
 

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