A Doctor in the Family

My father walked barefoot to

the municipal school

with no money for lunch

and torn, fourth-hand books.

And every day his feet stung

from giant spider bites.

His friend had a mother

who squatted on street corners

and fried snacks in hot oil

so her son could have slippers.

My father was motherless.

As a child, I heard him

mutter at beggars, those

who swarmed …