Triage how Men Leave (A Poem)

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Editor’s note: The responsive nature of this website means that the formatting of the poetry is not as the poet intended. In an effort to uphold the artistic integrity of his work, I have presented both the text and a photo of the formatted text. Please also see the photo, below.

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triage how men leave

my father left despite remaining right beside me daddysilence smothering the room

nothing uglier than child afraid to make noise i grew up scared of my rage

but slave to it anyway breaking toys as self flagellation both traumatizing & empowering

how to play & how to resist how to be present in both there is art to survival leave

childhood behind act the part of man

find safety in disappearing rather than remaining trusting only the wild animal inside

petrified to feel pain desperate like everyday man meanspirited & hurting using

privilege to counter growth to hide away & lick those self inflicted wounds

i too have left long before departure lovers & places believing no purpose served by

sadness bunched up like fist punched my way forward like advancing army like attack

never understanding triage is an act of love more powerful than victory & oftentimes more

necessary

now i approach others palms extended & skyfacing understand welcoming predicates

goodbye that to open means not to hold but to release

that an entrance always doubles as exit

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Click the photo to see the poem formatted as the poet intended.

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About the author:

TOMAS MONIZ is the founder, editor, and writer for the award-winning zine, book, and magazine: Rad Dad. In Fall 2016, the new & culminating anthology Rad Families: A Celebration will be released. His novella Bellies and Buffalos is a tender, chaotic road trip about friendship, family, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. He’s the recipient of the 2016 Mary Tanenbaum Award and founder of two literary reading series. He’s been making zines since the late nineties, and his most current zine tendril wild is available, but you have to write him a postcard: PO Box 3555, Berkeley CA 94703. He promises to write back.

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This post is republished on Medium.

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Photo credit: Shutterstock