I remember the look on the old man’s face when he went into a tirade about something that bruised his pride…An issue about my sister’s boyfriend. He slammed her down on the floor and ranted around the house--saying that he was going to hurt everybody. I stood up to him with a chair, screaming the first thought that came into my head— “You are going to murder your daughter.” He gave me a stare like he was possessed, marching towards me with the inevitable punches and beatings I have become accustomed to. Judi told me to move, but I was dead… I knew it, waiting for the carnage to begin. However, he stood there for a minute, looked around the room then broke down and cried. He kept telling me; “Never do that again,” because he didn’t know what he was capable of doing… I never saw him that broken…that emotionally bent… But, of course he never admitted defeat. While all was forgotten in the dysfunctional world called home. This is why part of me hates his guts… Always had to be the tough guy, the psychological warrior…A man who needed to be feared to live with himself…
About the Poet:
Dan Provost’s poetry has been published throughout the small press for a number of years. He has been published in Ariel Chart, Odd Magazine, Punk Noir Press, Poetica Review, Piker Press, Misfit Magazine, Merak Magazine just to name a few. Kung Fu Treachery Press has published his latest collection of work–Under the Influence of Nothingness He lives in Berlin, New Hampshire with his wife Laura.
Ephemeral Elegies 
Very sad! We are never quite sure of what we can or will do until we are in the moment!
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Thank you very much…
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