general quarters

my father woke himself at six

every morning six days of the week

but on sundays he slept in

a few minutes before mass began

our mother would ask my sister and i

to wake our father

so he could drive us to church

he never attended church himself

he sat outside in the parking lot

reading the sunday papers

my sister and i would stand outside 

the bedroom door

pushing and shoving

pinching and punching silently

over who would have to awaken him

when he was awoken suddenly

he gave a great start

and threw his legs out of the bed

planting them on the floor solidly

and in that moment became aware 

of his surroundings

the legacy of thirty years of shipboard life

standing watch and working days

and always ready

when general quarters was called

there was no emergency in the house

and my father

a trifle wild eyed but wide awake

he would take a glance around

run a hand through his sparse hair

slip on his slippers

suppress a cough or two

then he would reach for his cigarettes

strike a match 

and inhale his first breath of the day

jeg.

2/14/19