Wishes

My Dad had a saying

as most Dads do

I'm still writing mine

It's gonna be mine

to give brand new

As a child

I would visit him in various

halfway houses

seedy motels

I didn't know then

but drug houses

And "camp"

where all the "campers"

dressed alike in orange

so the hunters in the towers

wouldnt mistake them for deer

I had watched some deer hunting on T.V.

They always did wear orange out there

I was always telling him

I wish this

and I wish that

One day

he told me to hold out my hands

and close my eyes

I loved my father 

and trusted him over

all others

so I complied

With 8 year old hands outstretched

palms up

I feel my father grab my hand

and lean in close to my ear

"I want you to wish

the wish you want more than anything.

Better than a million Christmas's

and birthdays combined."

Wish it right here

in this open hand."

He squeezes my right hand

I wished the wish

that I dare not speak aloud

for it still might come true

This wish felt real

my fathers soothing voice

his hand on my shoulder

"You got it?"

"Yep"

"You sure?"

"Yep"

With that my father

pulled his other hand from

behind his back

and plopped a huge pile

of dog shit in my left hand

I just stood there

holding the worlds greatest wish 

and the worlds smelliest dog turd

I looked up at dear old dad

with tears in my eyes

"Wish in one hand

and shit in the other

and see which one gets full quicker."

After that day

I never wished 

for shit.