Lost Childhood

Lost Childhood

How was it possible, I, a father
yet a child of my father?  I
grew panicky and thought
of running away but knew
I would be scorned for it
by my father.  I stood
and listened to myself
being called Dad.

How ridiculous it sounded,
but in front of me, asking
for attention--how could I,
a child, ignore this child's plea?
I lifted him into my arms
and hugged him as I would have
wanted my father to hug me,
and it was as though satisfying
my own lost childhood.


--David Ignatow

Hesitation

 Hesitation

I was on my way
home
from a jog

sweat pooling on my upper lip
and everything

As I crossed the street
two cyclists approached
the
      corner

                                              a boy in front
a girl pedaling behind him

and I hesitated,
unsure of whether to keep walking
or let them pass         in front of me

(The sidewalk
was not big enough for all of us)

Finally,
I paused,

let them pass--
     him
           then her
their bicycle wheels like spoked moons...

And to think that
I might have kept going

To think that
I might have
cut off their path

To think that
I might not have
let them
pass!



--Mariel Boyarsky