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I think I have a son

and I think I know the love of a father,

but I don’t have any pride. 

What’s a flag on my porch anyway? 

And what do I do when it rains all week? 

I can’t cut the grass, my neighbor is gone. 

I can’t borrow a mower. 

Sitting inside is bad for my heart.

Well, I take a walk at dusk and swat at gnats

and smell whatever they spray on the fields. 

A dog doesn’t cost too much, 

maybe I should get a dog. 

A cat isn’t too much energy, 

but I don’t like cats.

I’ve stopped smoking and 

gave my sister all the photo albums. 

I don’t have any pride, 

not even in my dreams.