February 4, 1956

It rained that day & the next
flooding Venice Blvd
My father floated the truck out
& up to the expectant hospital
so I’m told & ever since my
eyes have been ocean not sky colored
awash in the runoff of an eternity
neither my father nor I would ever
comprehend paddling back in
time as my mother will tell it
there’s very little you can bring
back with you but tears
which are themselves a rainy
document