He sang
by Pauli Dutton

every day of his life
a lyric tenor
reached most of the high notes
until the end

he danced
in tapping shoes
with such fervor
you wanted to join him

he painted
a glisten surfing the waves
red buoys with white seagulls
ships he might skipper some day

he laughed
old jokes retold again and again
my chest could not contain
its guffaws

despite defaulting debts
first wife’s suicide, second wife’s
schizophrenia, third wife’s spending sprees
my dad sang



 

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