|
MOM AT 89
Today
at the home
I read her some of my new stuff
while she squinted at me - straining to hear
My savvy mouth
sputtering out
chain-saw syllables
beneath those perfect and unspoiled steel-grey eyes
This ancient ex-editor
who's read more and knows more about writing and poetry
than I'll ever hope to know
Ten minutes in to it - I said - "Well, whaddya think?"
She looked distracted
ten thousand brow wrinkles came - flattened out - then returned
"Do you still have that phone-sales job," she said -
"No Ma, I don't have a day gig anymore - writing is all I do now"
"Well get one, for chrissake, she said - and help me up -
I need to get the bathroom"
Dan Fante was born and raised in Los Angeles. At twenty, he quit school and hit the road, eventually ending up as a New York City resident for twelve years. Fante has worked at dozens of crummy jobs including: door to door salesman, taxi driver, window washer, telemarketer, private investigator and more. He is the son of John Fante.
|
