The Groom's Father

Things the groom's father
ought to keep to himself -
his view on politics and race
his hits and mistresses

the world is blurry now
such sharp edges no longer exist
all the features washed out
identities borne by voices

he stands to clink a glass to this
as if boy and man were simply
sets of sweats you could exchange, a crown
of fabric pulled up over ears and hair

a set of coordinates on a map or plane
a corner you turn, and then you're there --
a son's voice cracking
the father's jokes, ice cubes popping

in bourbon's hot bath. Daniel, you've taken
all these vows layer upon layer
with the same mouth, yet you've never
promised to improve what you replace.