To My Father

(dedicated to my late father, a child victim of a Polio Epidemic)

You took pride in just being there
Despite your handicap
‘Me car’s me legs’ you’d say
In your fake brogue
As you waited patiently outside.

I will never forget
The Daily News propped against your steering wheel
The warmth, the cigar smoke
The concerned look when I returned
I know now
You always feared
My bringing back something you could not handle.