A Hug From Dad

Competition breeds a friendship

From the light pouring out of the cracks

Of inadequacies both men share

But dare not speak of

And the shit talking is the closest to a hug

They never got from their dad

And it’s all in good fun

Until it hits a nerve that wasn’t supposed to be touched

So they rack the pool table again and again

And they pay for shots that steal dinner sides from thier daughter’s plate

Meat from thier son’s warmest memory being formed about mom

Eyeliner from thier wives weekend shopping spree

The only peace they have a minute away from shitty diapers and boredom and a whining kid asking for mommy

And the men talk about all sorts of perverse ways they’d treat women that have been hurt worse than they deserve

They talk shit about people that only matter to those under them

And pretend they are above them

But tomorrow they’ll take directions from those same men

Then talk shit again as soon as they are out of earshot

And they fill their bellies with food and drink

And thier minds with ideas and plans

And it all means nothing