Holding On
Location
Surrounded by darkness
The light always burns at night
Gravel crunches underneath the tires as I pull up
I see him standing on the side of the house
Covered half by light and the other half
By darkness.
His shoulders relaxed underneath a simple jacket
I can see a lazy smile and glossy eyes.
I know what comes next
He sees me as I get out of the truck
“…How was your day?”
I don’t think he realizes the day is almost done,
With the twinkling stars
And the moon at its highest peak.
The stomping of his work boots
And keys rattling against his belt
It’s all so loud.
The hug, it’s always the same
The smell of ash mixed with metal
The smell of beer on his breath, so bitter.
As I step back
I see
A dry rough hand gripping
The cigarette all this time
As if it would escape.
I try to make him see it’s late
But his eyes are back to watching the night sky
Holding on to something I can’t see