Ex-Men (For Margaret and Kathy et al.)
Rent from DeepDyve- Ex-Men (For Margaret and Kathy et al.)
I wish I had my mother’s super strength and her incredible x-ray vision. She could lift anybody’s spirits without bending her knees see straight through the thickest lies.
Her kryptonite was my father. Mine probably is too, because I don’t seem to have the power to ask the hard questions I carry around in the back of my throat:
Did you know she was still in high school?Was there really a shotgun at the wedding?Did you ever love her or us?Could you have guessed I’d grow up to be you?
I wanted my mother’s super powers, but all I got was my father’s quiet agility . . . to disappear. [End Page 44]
Frank X Walker was first published here the year the first of his six poetry collections was released, and he was the featured author of our Fall 2011 issue. He is a professor at the University of Kentucky and is editor of PLUCK! The Journal of Affrilachian Arts and Culture.
