Postcards From Your Dead Dad

At first you hoped the charred cards were a bid for forgiveness. But your long-dead father’s ashy handwriting, unmistakably rigid, won’t apologize for hitting Mr. Wiggles with the sedan, or forgetting the invitations for your tenth birthday party. Dad’s not looking to close old wounds. Instead: implacable criticisms, with no return address.

Fix kitchen baseboard! 14 degrees crooked.

The inside of your mouth is grungy and green.

You were difficult enough without your mother. WHERE IS SHE!?

Somewhere better, you hope. Today’s postcard depicts a lake of fire; a waving hand of crumbling ashes; the caption Wish You Were Here!

Chris Clemens lives and teaches in Toronto, surrounded by raccoons. More: linktr.ee/clemenstation