My Old Man

Illustration from functionalhandstrength.com

(For Papa – Ettore Paolo “Paul Hector” Lenzi, 1910-1998)

my old man was called dago
wop, guinea and greaseball
by those who would treat him
like dirt on their shoes
but he stood them all down
with a technique designed
to carve home from
unwelcoming streets
penetrating with gaze shot
from confident eyes
he would halt them off stride
in their insolent tracks
from his elegant height
he would smoothly disarm them
with dignified smiles
and polite introduction
then clasp mighty handshakes
while dropping his other
like open-palmed steel
on their lowering shoulders
a few would make hang-dog
retreat in a muttering
state of confusion
but most of them realized
surprised of a moment
they’d just made acquaintance
with one damned remarkable man
a man who from then on
they merely called friend