You must wear it
With authority and manliness,
Labeling yourself a ladies’ man.
You must act and walk a certain way.
You can’t be a punk.

You must wear it like he wore
Poverty and abandonment;
You have to let the abuse
Sink into your surroundings,
Making the air
Stale.

You must wear it like
He has worn it.
You can’t cry out.
That’s not how your father wore it.

You have to smell
The cologne on the fabric
Of your shirt
And on the surface of your skin.
You must wear
The alcohol and tears
From the depression and loneliness
That life has taught you.
Just like it has taught your
Father.

You can’t wear love,
That’s like washing away the scent.
That’s like washing him away.