Breath & Shadow

My Dad Saves Me

By Gary Bloom

It’s the early sixties

On an island smack

In the middle of

The Mississippi

And Minneapolis

Where no sandy

Beached island

Belongs

This current

Will take you

Places this

Current is

Strong and

Get stronger

Further from shore

But there was

A gulf between

Us and I wouldn’t

Scream and you

Wouldn’t say a

Word when

I drifted away

You swam silently

Out and took

Me one hand

Under my chin

As you back stroked

Back to shore

Were you proud

Or angry

Or ashamed

I never knew.

Gary Bloom has been writing articles, poetry, and short stories for more than twenty years, with credits in Breath and Shadow, American Visions, The Educated Traveler, Milwaukee Magazine, The Buffalo News, The Grand Rapids Press, Grit, Cappers, Oasis, Mankato Poetry Review, Players, Black Diaspora, and other magazines, websites, and newspapers. His poetry often deals with depression, an affliction he has battled for many years. He grew up in Minneapolis and has Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Mankato (Minnesota) State University. He now lives in Pass Christian, MS.