There Is No Absence This Father's Day

there is no absence this father’s day

every day this week is the third sunday of june

sun illuminates entire globe at once

rain falls, for boots to test the puddles

warmth greets grills to simmer flesh

unique snowflakes tickle the tongue

we play poppa dress up

loiter outside too long

drag conversations past designated end

set trinkets on porches

burn pieces of paper scribed with every year of distance

mimic mannerisms til the sun bust out laughing

finding the perfect gift irrelevant

fathers presents themselves

there is no absence this father’s day

miles of distance, snap gone like tape measurer

prison walls evaporate

crooning hands dislodged tombstones

scorn and spite dissipate

indifference tires

nurture blooms

transparent limbs manifest flesh

sun returns the missing

tears run dry

longing erased

voids filled

questions answered

bonds resurrected

family created

scriptures rewritten

there is no absence this father’s day

begotten son travels to earth with his father, they live together

rosetta stone adds parent-child communication

possession of omission purified

the lost glide towards bouquets of open arms

march to the hearts of their seeds

float to paradise of reunion

insecurity withers

no expectation of vanished

no fear to escape

there is no absence this father’s day

the birth fathers

the birth certificate fathers

the non-men fathers

the grandfathers great and greater

the godfathers

the god father

the teacher fathers

the pastor fathers

the barber fathers

the mentor fathers

all are

prodigal and full

even me

i return, shed my translucent

find my smile on a budding seed

same shade of present

we dance in the living room

scream loudly

laugh louder

prepare plant-based meals

make the biggest mess

play pick-a-boo

rock him to sleep

remix explicit song into lullaby

hold him, tightly

the celebration does not end

even now in this very moment

it is still the third sunday in june