daddy is
a little girl’s
word for god
no matter the fabric
of the man
worshiped
mine died when i was
6 years
4 months
and 13 days along
my voice was carved that day
in front of my mother
screaming death
on bent hallway knees
i have to tell you, folks
having his statue toppled
became my spine
it made the hell of everyday living
somehow less of an intolerable disaster
all i know is
it is 42 degrees
it is October 26th
i am still alive
my sons thrive
and there is nothing more beautiful
than a child at play