everything but love

my father

with his money. with his
depression

era
mind set. bills tucked
under his

mattress.
stretching milk
and bread.

sniffing for the sour,
scrapping
free the mold,

wrapping tight each pack,
securing
each lid,

he's frugal to say the least.
driving

nine miles to save a penny
on unleaded
gas.

my sister sends away
for his

shoes once the old pairs
have

have worn off the soles.
he has made
everything in his life

last long.
preserving, holding, keeping
it until

the bitter end.
everything but the love
of others,

lasts, stays on.