As a child, I loved looking at pictures of my mom and dad’s wedding. I was their seven-day-old guest at the Tennessee-backyard affair, wearing a white frilly dress and bloomers. My Mom, Jennifer, was beautiful with her porcelain skin and brown eyes. A flower crown graced the top of her well-coiffed, high-volume brunette mane and she wore a tiny white dress with lavender polka dots, her body rejecting any glimpses of pregnancy or birth.
Dad, who went by David, was baby-faced and handsome with his tan suit and matching lavender bow tie and cummerbund. His smile was wide and bright as he stood next to Mom with her tight-lipped, anxious smirk.
Though my dad went missing-in-action for most of the pregnancy, he was at the hospital when I arrived, dropping in and out to hold me or take a picture. I was born on Derby Day 1985 and Spend A Buck won the race, running at a suicidal pace and setting what was then the fastest mile in the sport’s history.
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading my poem, “Dad was Born on Derby Day” at the Kentucky Derby Museum’s annual Poetry Derby event (virtually). I’m sharing it here today and look forward to its publication in the museum’s chapbook.
Dad was Born on Derby Day
Spend-A-Buck set a suicidal pace
On the day Dad became my father
Setting the fastest mile
Without ache or bother
Did I mention the dust?
Rock-and-roll roadie, running farther
Riding highs of youth and self-destruction
Galloping in and out, starting on Derby Day
Too smart for gumption
Did I mention the dust?
Noble Bull: The best soldier to be found
Left no man behind
When boots hit the ground
Decorated war hero trying to survive
Lost in the cinders
Roses and medals flanked your coat
You wore honor for your country
In your marred brain
Soot covering grey matter
Hiding your pain
Valor and Victory
Never stops
You taught me to be proud
Coca-Cola, bourbon, anger blazing hot
For all of us
It ends the same
A cloud of dust from ashes remain
For you
Infamy overshadows fame
I remember your glory
Your guts
At your Kentucky grave
Memories are the dust I must save
The day I became alive because you couldn’t stay
My Dad was born on Derby Day