he was drunk walking
down the middle of the road
the sun long since departed
there was little traffic
but his death wish was real
in its alcohol disguise
padre had forgiven his sins
he understood confess
but Forgiven before Atone
did not compute
(hard wired is hard
on the cranium)
he was sober walking
down the iron road
cops say he stumbled
in front of the oncoming train
lacking evidence of either
accidental or on purpose
great grandmother
confessed to her grandmother children
“I was taught only dirty girls enjoy sex,
even after marriage. Your father drank
to douse testosterone.”