POEM

Tutelary

by Michael Ryan

Michael Ryan
What a fuckup you are.   
What dumbshit you do.   
Your father's voice   
still whispers in you,   
   
despite the joys   
that sweeten each day.   
Your Genius it isn't   
until, dying away,   
   
it worms back through   
the sparkling dream   
where you drown him   
in an inch-deep stream:   
   
your knee in his back,   
your strength on his skull,   
it begins singing   
praise for your skill.

This poem originally appeared in the April 2004 issue of Poetry.

April 2004 issue of Poetry Magazine

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 Michael  Ryan

RYAN, Michael (1945– ), was born in St Louis, Missouri. He studied at Notre Dame University . . . MORE »

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