Telemachus

poetry

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash

Telemachus

Cracked voice mood
typical teenage brood

Bones to brain, legs faster
bullets fly, canned laughter

Staring at a television
not plugged in

Eleni twirls her curls
promises to set her ponies free

Her parents in a whirl
whisk her off to Delphi

Maria from his homeroom class
on the screen studying ancient math

An emotion he doesn’t understand
rises from the heart of his pants

He leans toward wants to say hello
but cannot risk things beyond his control

“If you keep doing that, you’ll go blind.”

“What? It’s not even turned on,” I reply

“You’re sitting too close. Go outside.  
Shoot some hoops. Clean your room.
You know Daddy will be home soon.’

“Oh mom. You know he’s not returning.”

“He just likes to unwind after working.”

Days pass, father's mass 
there on the blank screen 

Licking a lollipop, teasing
“Tele’s got a girlfriend.”

Canned laughter. Canned beans
his friend Dave comes in.

Dave has a car and a license.
the greatest hits of Steve Miller

Pure rolled gold, no filler
they spy the Pub of Troy

Where daddy’s been known to enjoy 
another round, another long story 

They go right past
roll down the windows

They fly like an Eagle
they don't look back

They leave the ground
they don't look down