Dad (Abe Cohen) was 27 here in 1951, a few years back from serving in the US Marine Corps in the South Pacific. That’s Mitchel Cohen at 2 years old. Picture in Sheepshead Bay. Dad was 55 when he died in 1980. His 98 birthday would be on December 5th. Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!

from The Permanent Carnival
GROUNDHOG DAY HAIKU

When my father died
They tied his wrists and ankles
Lifted his body

And then we were young
He swings me in Brighton Beach
Sky holds no limits

Leafy fingers of
Elm, Maple and Sycamore
Sweep my horizons

Stretch out for me. He
Runs me on bicycle, lets
Go, this world is mine

His body is brown
Fairer than I remembered
And the tattoo of

The hula dancer
Needled into his right arm
In the Philippines

World War 2 Marine
Has finally stopped twitching.
Goodbye, my hero.