Richard L. Matta
Different Pattern
The knitting instructor, Anne, knows the other students, all women, about mom’s age. They’re busy with skeins of yarn feeding needles of know-how. Socks, hats, and a small outfit for a dog. Just a scarf, I tell Anne, for my dad. I stare blankly at the new knitting kit. They tutor me along—the instructor, and classmates. Anne pinpoints and unravels my mistakes. I don’t think Dad, who I connected with through hunting and military service, ever completely believed I made the scarf.
hunting with dad
the ten-point buck
I must have seen
on his death bed
he smiles at the picture
About the Author
Richard L. Matta grew up in New York’s Hudson Valley, attended university, practiced forensic science, and now lives in San Diego. Some of his haiku, tanka and haibun are in Modern Haiku, Frogpond, Akitsu Quarterly, Bottle Rockets and Presence. His long-form poetry is found in various journals, including Gyroscope, Dewdrop, Ancients Path and Healing Muse.