aayoungevery night you were away
i sought you out
through blackberry bramble ether
from weeping constellations above dixmyth avenue
to jessamine county barns filled with horse hay
perpetually wrapping blue ribbon around my finger
whispering vespers
my plea to the particles of the universe
to hold you together
to bring you back from oblivion
as you had done for me
you are my chosen family
inextricably part
of my thunderous heart
to which you will always hold the latchkey
first day at the bus stop
for twin boys becoming gentlemen
their third year of high school
nearing six feet tall
in size 10 shoes
black linen shirts
jeans with chains
lookin’ like punk tony sopranos
packin’ pens, pencils, and graphing calculators
when i consider the dark years
the doctors
the tests
the poking
prodding
psycho dissections
the concept of a dysfunctional spectrum
and the word autism
i look to the sky
where whomever is supposed
to be running this shit show
is failing at their job
and i say fuck you
fuck you life
and all the hell you had planned
have a look at my beautiful boys
beating the odds
that’s right, tough guy
watch my sons rise