married my mother,

built his house,

mowed his lawn,

ran his store.

 

Was not ashamed of his faith or his grammar,

and never cared for beauty.

 

Beauty. Enough of that. No more.

 

He called no man boss.

 

When his kids were grown and gone

and had forgotten duty,

he turned to his house,

beating the walls with his high hammer,

making one room into another,

looking for the one he lost.