Mark Butler

Dead Minus e = Dad

It’s grim work
this feeling nothing
when your father dies
40 years after you last
saw him, his turned back
spurning you more familiar
than his face ever would be,
as if you’re mourning
not for him, but for grief,
yet another thing
he denied you.

Born in Sydney 68 years ago, Mark Butler had a varied career in publishing and journalism combined with writing songs, books and poetry, and now contents himself with poetry.