FATHER WRITES.

A GIRL IN NEW YORK IN 1920 GETS A LETTER FROM HER FATHER ASKING HOW SHE'S DOING.

How’s New York? Father
Writes, his spider scrawl
Upon the page. You take

In the sentences, the news
He’s sent, the things he
Doesn’t say between the

Lines, not a word on Mother,
Nothing much from his end,
All about you and how you’re

Doing and how the apartment
Is and how’s the girl you’re
Sharing with and so on and

So on. You put down the letter
And think out a reply; how best
To tell him things, how best to

Lie, how best not to tell him
About you and the job and
The guys you meet and the

Booze you drink and how
You go to listen to jazz and
Dance at those kind of parties

And have a hell of a good time.
Be imaginative. Say, the girl’s
From mid west, those, he says,

Are the best. Ginny’s from the
Bronx; she’s a hot number; knows
Things; introduces you do people

Who don’t matter; she knows the
Ropes, understands what makes
Guys think, work, and act,

Makes good sex too when the
Guys are rare and it’s just you
And her. Best tell him other things,

Other lies. He won’t come to New
York and see how things really are
With you and how you really live.

Tell him what he wants to hear,
What he believes about his little
Girl, what’s to say? What’s to tell?

Daddy, dear…and end it kiss kiss.
He’ll never know you live like this.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good letter. I had a wise Grandfather. As I went off to war. He said never sent bad news home. Even when it is bad. Sent good news back to Grandma. She will worried herself to death. I like this poem. The real story must be hidden not to worry old Dad. A outstanding poem. Thank you.
Coyote