appealing

The Maynard
Spring 2020

griffin epstein
0:00
 
 

In Which I Re-name My Father

if he is an untelevised acceptance speech
sucked back air

if he is the perfect number of inches between sidewalk and tailored coat
the knowledge of those inches

if he is the shape not even deigning to be ghostly
no sound (not a creaked stair or anything)

the hope at the lip
of an empty bowl

if he is refused memory
a hand on my                    head                    back                    anywhere

the redacted button beneath the collar of a dress shirt

the excess fabric in the lining of a pocket

the hole

then i am the singing that almost wakes him, i am

the bird starving in his throat