What Changed

You used to be such a sweet boy, tell me everything, ask me all your questions. What happened to you?

This poem from 2013 is a variation on the theme of “Why I’m Not a Fan of Father’s Day.”

The author and his father, circa 1969.

You used to be such a sweet boy.
What changed?

You used to tell me everything,
Ask me all your questions.
You couldn’t wait to show off
Your times tables. At age three.
Which you worked out for yourself.
What changed?

You used to climb into my lap
And rub the buzz-cut fuzz
On the back of my head.
You used to ask the barber
To cut your hair
So it was just like mine.
What changed?

You used to show me your stories,
Talk about your friends,
Tell me what was on your mind.
You used to let me point out
When you were straying
From the straight and narrow
In deed or in thought.
What changed?

You didn’t used to keep to yourself,
Skulk around the house,
Stay in your room,
Use that gutter language.
I didn’t used to need to drink,
Or use this belt on you.

What changed? ∅