What Viktor Frakyl said

Three months after my father was born as a third child

First a son, a daughter, him, and then spotting

My grandmother was painting in the kitchen with my grandfather

A woman’s place, a man’s work, comingled and then spotting

My grandfather off to work at Celetex factory producing asbestos insulation

After machine guns in the Philippines put shrapnel in his leg

Labor for the day a phone call from his wife

“Get off your feet to bed; I’ll be home after work”

She finished painting the kitchen, first

Permission, roles, my father’s mother in a bathroom 

Flushing three months after my father was born

Forty-eight years old, did not know the blood

Then did know, knew, called the doctor, came that evening

Words a year later grandfather in the car with the tub

Conversation and then the spotting

This time doctor says get a bed pan, use ever time

Looked like a banana in a wrapping

I don’t want you on the pill

Pray the Good Lord

Father would have liked to have five

Never seen a woman so excited to have the procedure

Office visit, talking to the doctor says

1975, Granny says you should talk to my husband

Thirteen years never missed a meeting at the civic association

President refused to acknowledge the perfect attendance, no plaque for tied-tubes

Never knew there was one, let alone two, I think of my own

What other know, what they don’t

My mother’s mother, on an on about the stillborn son, Keith wrecked her will

Always edgy after, father’s mother two-almost unfazed in conversation

Perspective and Victor Frakyl said it was all about attitude.