Artwork © Robert Fleming

 

Apologies to Pop

A cloud dissolved in my memory,
And now I know you were jealous
Of my affection for my mother,
Knowing all her good intentions
Were harmful for me, but you
In your silent way unable to bear
My own shortsightedness resigned
Yourself to my own ignorance.
You offered to pay your mother
Money to keep me in Italy.
You offered me a chance to detox
In your home with your wife
By entering a rehab for a year,
And I not wanting to leave mother
Alone for that long I refused help.
You were very reserved, almost
Never showing emotion, but joy.
I remember the joy you felt
When I was at your deathbed.
Erna, your wife, also knew
I needed help, and was kind
Enough to tell me I was an alcoholic
Like her brothers. I needed help
All right but not from other people.
My help is to be alone as much
As possible. To nurture myself
With self-love until I’m strong
Enough to love and nourish her.
A cactus grows with little water.

 

Michael La Bombarda is a poet and fiction writer. He has books available on Amazon. He is retired and lives in New York City.

Robert Fleming is a digital artist and visual poet from Lewes, DE. His books are White Noir, an Amazon best seller and Con-Way in 4 in 1 #4. Founding/contributing editor of Old Scratch Press and editor of Instant Noodles.