My father, for example, br who was young once br and blue-eyed, br returns br on the darkest of nights br to the porch and knocks br wildly at the door, br and if I answer br I must be prepared br for his waxy face, br for his lower lip br swollen with bitterness. br And so, for a long time, br I did not answer, br but slept fitfully br between his hours of rapping. br But finally there came the night br when I rose out of my sheets br and stumbled down the hall. br The door fell open br br and I knew I was saved br and could bear him, br pathetic and hollow, br with even the least of his dreams br frozen inside him, br and the meanness gone. br And I greeted him and asked him br into the house, br and lit the lamp, br and looked into his blank eyes br in which at last br I saw what a child must love, br I saw what love might have done br had we loved in time.