Father's Day

Father’s Day

He remembered the day
he walked 8 batters in a row
and his father left him in the game.

He remembered the day
he learned to hit a baseball
when he wanted to stay in the house
and read a book.

He remembered the day
he got to drive the Mustang to school
and his father gave him the keys
and no lectures.

He remembered the punishments
that he never believed
hurt his father more.

He remembered getting a job
unloading box cars
on college breaks
in the middle of the night
when he would rather be in the movies.

He remembered working in the yard
on hot Saturdays
just so he could go to the movies
late in the afternoon.

When his father died
the priest said pious things
about an honorable man.

He knew that the priest
had no idea
what was on the other side of midnight.

He prayed anyway
because that is what his father
would have wanted him to do.