had ice cold blood like a stone
named me after my daddy’s brother
& just before she skipped town
she let my father know
his brother had called around
so every time my dad
visited his mothers house
he had to walk past his brother’s place
shoulders set head held up high
raising this kid mother had run away
who just might not have been his
anyway
& they asked me in later days
after the old man had passed on
if I knew who my father was
there was no hesitation stutter
I could answer straight
of course
& I had some ideas
on who my mother was
too
neilbenbow 