I drive up hills to see the tops of other people’s heads
at the top I can’t read books at the top
I can’t watch my own children at the top I am
dumb I am numb at the top
but still I want to go to the top because that’s where
a boss sits a boss has fits at the top gives
tips at the top a boss gets into tip-top shape
on the way up yesterday I met a boss
who asked his people how they felt once I
met a boss who knelt as he bused
tables who helped his people without his arms
on his hips my father wanted me
to be a boss who can fire up people
who can fire people my father used to
circle English words he didn’t know with a
red pen now his books drip
red now his books have locks he has an aphasia workbook
he asks my four-year-old to help when I
ask him the name of his old boss
he says his own name