My Father Teaches

During a movie
concerning dying dogs
and red plants
I glanced at my father
and noticed a tear 
on his cheek.
I blushed ashamed, 
embarrassed, jealous
of his freedom.

Somehow he knew
my judgment, my intention.
A primal impulse
turned his head towards mine. 

Three Poems – Josh Gaines

A Balance 

We caught 88 crabs 
in fifty minutes at tide 
going out, we’d brought them up 
by threes like it was personal and

I can’t remember why we stopped.
Maybe we’d shed enough gulf blood 
for one sunset. Maybe 
it was a matter of weight.

When I stumbled, dropped the cooler,
stood sore and wheezing, you marched 
back, and lifted it into your car
like it was empty.

At your home we boiled them by batches
and drank the best beer we could find
at a 7-11, in Florida,
on a Sunday.