David with Baby Absalom, Upside Down

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

He sits in T-shirt with his tiny son,

In T-shirt and in shorts, the long black hair

Like Absalom’s.  It’s almost like a pun

On fatherhood upon the sofa there,

The papa with the boy a charming scene

As if in Hallmark booklets slick with love,

With sentimental love, some clothes between

Them, nothing more.  He downward looks above

The sucking boy with bottle in his teeth

And bliss is everywhere, both bliss and peace.

It is as if no father, son beneath

Him, ever knew disruption or loves cease.

  This time, though, father is the rebel, drugs

    His weapons stabbing future warmths and hugs.

October 5, 2026