You Beauty

After dinner, Andrew sits on the floor and belts

out notes – off key - from well known power ballads

tilting me back to early family parties

and recent business meetings when I could

and did express my tension, truth or beauty, disregarding.

Then his clamorous song stirs up a heavy

chest, my cave of mouth to a vinegar taste

and tears all dammed with clubby fingers

clenched for every time I couldn’t, didn’t

howl because he's singing out, because he can.