Some words for the week
I wake in infant light
walk to the bathroom
and brush my teeth
I face myself
in the mirror
I look into my own eyes
at the shape of my jaw
at the slight curl of my beard
I think of my grandfathers
neither of whom I really knew
I wonder if I had known them
if I could pick out
the pieces of me
that come from them
I wish this was the case
but they’ve been dead
longer than I’ve been alive
still I wonder
if a lifetime ago
when they would wake for work
and stumble to the bathroom
and shave or whatever else
who they thought they looked like
who they longed for
Alexander Shalom Joseph is a writer from Gilpin County. He is a published author. For more information and to subscribe to Alexander’s Newsletter go to alexandershalomjoseph.com
