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CINQUAINS
by
Thomas D. Greer

FATHERHOOD

1

Shaving:
lather, scrape, rinse,
drowsy repetition.
Two sons stand crowding at the door,
staring.

2

Pickup,
parked in the lot:
bicycles in the bed --
wheels slowly progress, back and forth,
waiting.

3

Sidewalk:
stone-chalked portraits,
roller skate-obstructed,
a nearly intact Fudgesicle,
melting.

4

Newscast:
another child
"missing, last seen wearing..."
All night long, awake, listening,
checking.

5

Waking
at 3:00 a.m.
panicked, sure I forgot
something important. Did Andrew
potty?!

6

Watching
his brother climb
the backyard's tallest tree.
His eyes follow, he tells himself:
One day.

______________________________

SHARING

Eyes shut,
biting his lip,
a solid, dusty, whump!
announces the summer triumph:
first catch!

We sit
on the front porch,
tugging the loose laces -
"It was my father's mitt, then mine,
now yours."

Later,
he gives the mitt
to his little brother,
explains the history and says,
"I'll share."

________________________________

INSTRUCTION

1. Frisbee
A flick,
easy, but quick...
Your wrist, son. Watch, here's how.
Twist your waist, unwind your arm,
now - release!

2. Batting

Choke up!
Bat off shoulder.
Look here! Eyes on the ball...
It's ok! Try again... Now SWING!
Once more.

3. Turn-about

No, Dad.
Push this button.
Go get your extra man!
You gotta jump! Watch out! Sorry.
You lose.

_______________________________

OASIS

1

Your skin,
a delicate
melange of sand and sun,
the slightest taste of cinnamon
and salt.

2

Your hair
spills through my hands;
I think of a savage
kneeling beside a dark river --
quenching.

3

Your eyes,
liquid clay-brown,
mold my nomadic thoughts
into the Islamic shape of
your eyes.

_____________________________

SHORTLY EVER-AFTER

She dusts
framed photographs,
the wedding, the babies,
placing them just so, turning him
face down.

Copyright © Thomas D. Greer 1996

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