I Dare You

Most of my childhood friends
came from beautiful homes
ruled by upper-class monsters

A man and a woman got married
had two children –– a boy & a girl ––
The man worked too much. Then

Alcohol. Cocaine. Affluence-
Induced Spousal Abuse;
& Adultery...

She turned a blind eye
It was the 1970s, after all,
It was a black eye.

*

How my parents managed
How they dodged so many bullets
I cannot tell you...

They watched as their friends
Dropped like flies, yet they survived
This year we cheered their 44th anniversary!

Does this seem strange?
Does it seem
Unlikely?

*

My wife & I (and our two daughters),
I pray, will follow in their pious
Footsteps…

I have not kissed –– I mean
Really kissed –– another woman
In twenty years; & believe me
I've been tempted

We avoid social situations
Where drinking is necessary
For anything other than dazzling the palate
Or blessing the Sabbath

*

So if I tell you we are happy,
Does that make us "traditional"?
& if our gay male neighbors adopt

Two little boys from China
& I tell you I am happy for them,
Does that make me a traitor?

How do a man & a woman
procreating & living in fear of g-d
Make a traditional family?

And if you tell me we are actually
Role models, standard bearers,
Why should I believe you,
Why should I take you seriously?

What are you really trying to sell, anyway?
Show me a "traditional family"
& I will show you
a non-traditional family...