Stubborn, licensed, restless, he always has
a comeback and nothing much to say—apart
from what’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are
you saving that for Dad? He needs more sleep,
he lets you wait—unless you’re on his clock—
and never makes the bed. Nose deep in his phone,
he pounds around the house with a giant’s tread
and emanates a pent-up power that startles
napping cats and trips the breaker to
your thinking thought without regard for hour
or context. Each responding smirk to wisdom
or advice makes clear as ice he knows
you are ridiculous but cannot read
his mind because his hair is in his eyes.
And when he finally sees he’s pushed too hard
he belts your favorite tunes or jokes in French
or does that jig that makes you laugh. It always
works. Because you recognize what’s up
and cultivate those moments when he lets
you in, you must breathe deeply and believe
this bright creative silly almost-man
will learn to harness charm and his opposing
energy to catapult himself
into an angry world, which needs a laugh,
his brash and tuneful song, to dance a jig,
however brief, with unrelenting joy.
Published in Cider Press Review, Volume 23, Issue 5.
Felicia Sanzari Chernesky is a longtime editor, slowly publishing poet, and author of six picture books, five of them rhyming. In 2018 she moved away from the masthead of an academic quarterly to work with those who want to share their ideas, stories, and poems in print. She lives with her family in glamorous New Jersey. Visit her online at www.feliciachernesky.com.
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