Blow by Blow

he enters the room. & his father. pretends
not to notice. to gether they watch heavy weights. pour

their bodies into the ring. he leams. it is nothing
to pummel a man's face. as long as you embrace him

immediately after. this is how they bond.
the television as conversation. how to talk with your fists.

when he's older he won't. feel. his father's language.
he will not collapse. when the words touch his. body.

he will drop only after finding. his father
alone with the television. talking. talking. talking.