My grandfather did not fight
in WWII, as he worked developing
radar for the Navy
Until he came home different
one day, and was taken away
for shock treatments and lithium.
My father did not fight
in Vietnam, as he was a young
scholar with a family
Until he left home one day
without explanation, exiled
himself from doing harm.
I did not fight in the covert
and distant wars of my day
as I fumbled at fathering.
But I did stay. I grew along
with my sons and broke
the cycle. That was something.
by Michael Favala Goldman
Published in Lunch Ticket, Winter 2021
