[ToC]

 

SUBSTITUTES FOR "BEFORE MY FATHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER"

Tyler Tsay

 

 

*

they pushed a man
into me
when all
i wanted
was the sun
to rise

*

son, son,
let us
build castles
& be castles
together—
i sit atop your shoulders
& stay there.

*

i do not
want children,
anyone that loves
so unknowingly

*

they took the tumor
that was
your name
& gave back
to you
so much less
than you
were owed

*

my father
a rageful wind

*

nowadays
pauses over
the phone remind
me i am losing you
from three
thousand miles away

*

by violence
come violence
by violence
a son

*

son, son,
forgive
go on
show god
the good
in you still—
so i rebuild
& rebuild
what will
never
stay mine

*

bad things
don't care

bad things
break the rules

dad
break the rules
& live

*

the birds sing
& in it,
your glorious laugh
your soft hands

 

 

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