1996 My Father's Death

My father died in 1996. He had cancer, IgA Nepropathy, and he refused blood for "Jehovah." In 2024 I spoke with a former elder and family friend. He told me my father reached out and grabbed his arm and said "take care of my boy."

F is for the unintentional forgetting.

A is for the aroma that slowly left your clothes.

T is for the time I spent watching you wither.

H is the homage that I'm not.

E is for the escape of your last breath.

R is for the regret.

A son without a father, a father without a son.

I couldn't save my father but it isn't a child's job to save their parents. I made this painting on the 10 year anniversary of his death. I'm five years away from being the age he was when he died.