Discarded computers
take his interest
at twenty dollars apiece.
He fiddles fixes
teaches himself
to program and
operate them.
Long tedious hours
of frustration
sprinkled with joy.
He formalised his learning
and
set his sights
on a brighter future.
Four years after
the error of judgement
which led him to the bench
he invites his family home
for another attempt
at building the dream.
c. Kathryn Coughran
First published: 1994
In: Family Matters
(Kathryn Andersen)