Left Me, Lift me
Lonely lad, kid barely alive
just trying to survive
food from the fridge
uplift
a gift for my mom’s death
good-bye mom, bye
this turkey is good, huh dad?
want to fist-fight dad?
mad dad?
take care of us
you’re bad at that
unlike ma’
no-one saw her death coming
so I wasn’t ready for yours pa!
that’s how it ends?
angry, left to fend for myself
nowhere to turn for help
winter in Oregon, sleeping the streets
weeping and chattering of teeth
that’s my only relief
to this constant tearing sickening grief
I meant for those days to be gone
but here I am again, self-induced strife
I can’t seem to accept stability in my life
I hate you mom and dad, you left me
I love you mom and dad, you lift me
…Took me in, he did, a great man

my grandfather
old war vet
olive spotted wrinkled hands
showed me generosity
velocity of good deeds
the atrocity of violating the Torah
Amazing angel, working overtime at 92
he taught me what its like to be
…of the chosen few
he taught me what its like to be
…a contributing jew
I want to be a hero too!
he inspired me to suffer in silence
I’ve desired nothing, but to have
grand-father’s good sense
Grand man, grand role model
man, so easy to understand
Moms, pops…
Yeah it’s too good to be true
cuz’ old man died on me
just like you two.
I hate you; mom, dad, grandpa
…you guys left me
I love you; mom, dad, grandpa
cuz’ from heaven, you still lift me