The Christmas Wish

                                       The walls were painted tangerine,
                                       Mom was into the bright bold hues
                                       Ignoring some important views.
                                       Like her life with no in-between,
                                       That is why he remained unseen.

                                       I had just finished the trim work
                                       And today we were moving in.
                                       My mom called to let me know when
                                       And tell me about a new quirk
                                       That she couldn’t allow to lurk.

                                       Today was the day- the first time
                                       That a young teenage boy would meet
                                       His father- a flipping heartbeat.
                                       Soon he arrived and made the climb
                                       Up three flights and I heard the chime.

                                       People said that he looked like me,
                                       But when I opened the front door
                                       And he stepped in upon the floor,
                                       I couldn’t see it or agree
                                       That he and I shared the marquee.

                                       We said hello with a handshake,
                                       Then he scoped the scene and took leave
                                       To go to the truck and retrieve
                                       Our possessions without mistake,
                                       As I watched him through my heartache.

                                       They finished the job in a snap,
                                       Mom wrote a check and he was gone.
                                       No hug or goodbye- just a yawn
                                       As he reached back to get his strap;
                                       I felt my soul welt from the slap.

                                       That was the first and very last,
                                       The last time that I saw my dad
                                       And why I spent life being sad.
                                       My Christmas wish is that the past
                                       Would reconsider and stand fast.