An Honest Man

by

Published August 1st, 2010

My best friend Paul was sweet

to come all the way from Mankato

when my wife left me. At the door,

Paul stood as tall as I

and we hugged. Then he signed,

“Look good you. How manage you?

Can’t imagine. If my wife left

for sure me gunheadshoot will.”

I gave him a don’t-be-silly shove.

Before he left, I could feel him looking

at me. He said, “Me look you alone,

makes wife me cherish.” He did,

but his wife left him anyway

and—well, he kept his word.

About the Author
John Lee Clark was born deaf and became blind in adolescence. His chapbook of poems is Suddenly Slow (Handtype Press, 2008) and he edited the definitive anthology Deaf American Poetry (Gallaudet University Press, 2009). His work has appeared in many publications, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, McSweeney's, Poetry, and The Seneca Review.
  • Lcbishop1

    poetry,is said to express the human conditioin. This,sums it up perfectly.