Breath & Shadow
Spring 2010 - Vol. 7, Issue 2
"My Dad Saves Me"
written by
Gary Blume
It’s the early sixties
On an island smack
In the middle of
The Mississippi
And Minneapolis
Where no sandy
Beached island
Belongs
This current
Will take you
Places this
Current is
Strong and
Get stronger
Further from shore
But there was
A gulf between
Us and I wouldn’t
Scream and you
Wouldn’t say a
Word when
I drifted away
You swam silently
Out and took
Me one hand
Under my chin
As you back stroked
Back to shore
Were you proud
Or angry
Or ashamed
I never knew.
Gary Bloom has been writing articles, poetry, and short stories for more than twenty years, with credits in Breath and Shadow, American Visions, The Educated Traveler, Milwaukee Magazine, The Buffalo News, The Grand Rapids Press, Grit, Cappers, Oasis, Mankato Poetry Review, Players, Black Diaspora, and other magazines, websites, and newspapers. His poetry often deals with depression, an affliction he has battled for many years. He grew up in Minneapolis and has Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Mankato (Minnesota) State University. He now lives in Pass Christian, MS.