Poem of the day 10.21.08

RIP Grandpap

bud
--for alexander “bud” mcintyre
(1920-2008)

we didn’t see
eye to eye
or didn’t see
at all
that is we
never said
much
to each other
just
co-existed
between
one woman
your daughter
my mother
and now
it doesn’t matter
anyway
what with you
gone
and me sitting
here
in my stained
shorts
drinking
milwaukee’s best
and buying
jet blue tickets
to come home
for your funeral
but, bud,
there was that one
time
you and i sat
at the dining room
table
passing a bottle
of imperial whiskey
back and forth
and laughing
at everyone
until our eyes
went blurry
and christmas day
went
to hell
that i’ll never
forget.
and although
you never gave me
much
and maybe
i gave you less
than i should have
especially
toward the end
when you didn’t really
deserve it
at least we’ll
always have that moment
and, bud,
some people
know each other a lifetime
and give
each other much
much less.

10.21.08