Mike Hupman taught me how to punch.
He projected the “attitude”
And his eyes sparked under his
Stupid shaggy 80’s hair.
When he looked at me
He knew I was scared,
Just fucking terrified . . .
He knew I had no clue why.
He didn’t try to bring me out
Or share something deep.
He just dealt with it
As long as he could.
He taught me how to punch
On my dad’s front lawn,
And never told me what it meant.