Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL April 26, 2012

“Come to me,” I taught him when he was

just a puppy–now he lives with her.

 

I will never say her name, I choose

to call her “The Plaintiff.”  She is sure

both the kids love her the most, but they

tell me that they hate her new husband,

and they live for days the decree says

they can be with me.

 

The hours and

days that they are gone stretch out to be

years.  They change and grow mature unseen,

independent now–austerity

on my part absolutely unknown,

unacknowledged.

 

When they marry, I

pray they will have love until they die.