punch
and pounce.
Fathers hitting the ground
one
after another
after another.
We stood on the dock,
the children,
waiting for the noise to die
or drown.
He yelled
go back to the room.
So I ran.
Across town,
I locked the door.
Pressed myself
against the wall
while outside,
he punched
and pounced
and punched
and pounced.