Requiem for My Father

I knew you – really knew you –  late

Which I suppose conventional wisdom

Would say is better than never.

And in this case, conventional 

Wisdom is wise indeed. 

The sages mingle with the masses

And with one voice speak truth- conventional, cliché, clear:

“Better late than never.”

Let it be written in the clouds

Let it be recorded on the limestone

Around which we scatter you. 

(For Curtis Edward Joiner, Jr. 1946-2016)

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