2nd Dad Poem.

My second dad was Lawson
For 4 months out of the year.
Swim season. My diving coach.
He taped up my ankles
And praised me when I had perfect entries and good height and distance
And sometimes he bitched, but only when he knew I wasn’t trying
Or if I was being a baby
He could piss me off like no one else
And it made me stop being scared of hitting the board or slapping the water
Which I'm sure was the point.
Made me see my shortcomings as an athlete.
What a jerk.
God, sometimes I hated him.
My mom and dad wouldn’t come watch
Mom : I’m scared you’ll hit your head.
Dad: I’m running the whole goddamn school district, ask your mom.
But Lawson always came, even after they stopped paying him in the 10th grade.
He was my dad, Senior night
Gave me my bouquet of cheap carnations and kissed me on the cheek.
I loved him.
He believed in me.
I graduated high school and 2 years passed.
Then that miserable bastard went and died on me.
Motorcycle accident.
What a way to go, broken glass.