To Papa on My 18th Birthday

My years with you were billiards that you non-
chalantly shot, not able to hear them crash
and crack and sometimes even break apart—
small sounds drowned deep in your Budweiser laugh.

Now, as we stand here fumbling with farewell
your breezy banter has abandoned you
to helpless sobs I never saw before—
you watch in dread the final billiard drop.

I know you’re thinking of a thousand things
you could have done with me—but touch and kiss
were two I wanted more than all the rest.

So show me, Papa, if you’ve finally learned
that life is more than always being tough.
I’ve heard that hugs and tears are also love.

Richard Arnold lives on a modest acreage near Errington, BC. He teaches English at Malaspina University College in Nanaimo. Besides writing and reading poetry, he likes spending time with his family, hiking, canoeing, and camping. His work has been published in many print and electronic places across North America. He has two collections of poetry to his credit: a chapbook from Leaf Press (2002) and a haiku pamphlet from Island Scholastic (2003).

Email: Richard Arnold

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