I read Ken’s poem online
about his father and the paucity
of love words
            the mental leaps

            across the gaps
                      of knowing love was there

it reminded me how Dad
loved us without ever
saying that word

without giving up
            his helpful notes
                      on jobs we should apply for
                                or cars we might buy
                                          or ways we should save money

like the way he saved words

his suicide note typed out
with his one good hand
                      apologized

                                for leaving the way he did

he was proud of each of us
            and wanted us to care for mom
                      whom he said deserved
                                great love

and then he signed it

Dad

– Mimi Whittaker

Note: This piece was originally self-published in a book called In a Dark Sea.