PAD CHALLENGE, April 3

Poem 3 for PAD.

THE PROBLEM WITH FAMILY
(for Clark)

(1)
Mother might tell
you, for instance,
"I like the way
you turned out."
Or father might
say, "I'm sorry
I'm not around."

(2)
You grew up in a circus,
were nursed by goats
and schooled by acrobats.
Before bedtime you
sat on a bed of nails
while the tiny man
in a black tuxedo
combed your long hair.

(3)
Pipe Dream.
Dark joy.