Pops

[Weeded]

Edit 2
I built my house with Father
from an old fallen oak.

I played baseball without a glove,
had little league dreams.

I grew up quick,
supported mom in a toy store.

Mom didn't like her,
she had five bad kids.

Newlywed, duly blessed
with five fine stepchildren.

Iron words without fists
made holes in doors,

moments spent forever
in work my genius soared.

Stripes meant I served the flag right,
damn right that's life's dedication.

Only vacation I ever took
my son passed
and my eye was taken.

Wife said it's my fault
with a mouthful of pills

I bought an eyepatch for a buck
and kept paying the bills

but to perceive distance was impossible
now disabled at a desk.

Thirteen years later,
looking at my house from a distance

with guilt. Crosses affixing plaster,
pictures shadow memories
of a dream it seems

this house I built without Father
rests in smithereens.


Edit 1

As a kid
I played baseball without a glove,
I built my house
with Father from wood 
cut from the oak.

I grew up quick,
fell in love quicker,
found work at a toy store,
six months and I quit.

I do's, signed away life.
Recruiter said son you're great.
Saying son never felt right.

Vacation turned tragedy,
haunted by loss,
wife couldn't cope- antidepressants
left her alone.

Car crash halfed my sight,
I cover it with a patch
I got from a dollar store.

Military don't care about you,
they say son go here
knowing damn well I can't.

Thirteen years half blind
struggling to find the way,
this house I built without Father
did nothing but deteriorate

sure it's a pretty home;
corner of remembrance,
crosses on the wall,
but the foundation's spent
years hiding what's wrong.

Today I leave my wife
my kids, my life,
to try to see
what's behind the blind eye.

Original

I grew up poor,
played baseball without a glove,
I built my house
with Father with wood cut
from the oak next door.

Our backyard was a jungle
of essentials, apples to aloe
Mama could cook
long as the fruit hung low.

I grew up quick,
found work at a toy store,
fell in love even quicker,
six months and I quit.

Military bound after wedding vows,
I learned I'm a genius
that couldn't raise kids.

Car crash halfed my sight,
haunted by a lost son,
wife couldn't cope- antidepressants
leave her alone.

Military don't care about you,
I learned on a transfer
to a job I couldn't do.

Thirteen years half blind
struggling to find the way,
this house I built without Father
did nothing but deteriorate.

Today I left my wife
my kids, my life,
to try to see
what's behind the blind eye.[/i]