Daddy's Girl
An Elegy in Two Voices
Do I have to wear a jacket today, daddy?
Is the neverending night over now?
Is it spring's turn at last?
Can I take off my shoes, daddy?
I want my skin bare against the grass.
My feet curling into the thawing soil.
My toes befriending the earthworms.
Could you hold my hand, daddy?
You keep my footing steady.
You always know the way.
Can you tell me a story, daddy?
The one where the princess
finds her promised prince.
Where they live in a black stone tower
beside the field of lillies and daffodils.
Where a gentle kiss sets her free,
yet she chooses to slumber,
to keep dreaming of his lips.
I knew one morning you’d leave.
I knew we'd part with a kiss.
I knew we’d only meet again
in the far reaches of my dreams.
That morning I felt your fever
turn to frozen needles in my neck.
I thought I watched your chest
rise and fall.
But that wasn’t you.
I looked in the mirror.
That wasn’t me either.
I never meant to leave, daddy.
I miss your fairytales.
It’s too far away
to hear your voice
even though I'm hiding
inside each of them.
I’ll always be your little girl,
even though I forgot
the way home.
That morning you dressed me
so beautifully, daddy.
Yellow rain boots.
Mismatched socks.
A sunflower dress.
Pockets full
of painted stones.
Although neither of us
was really there
anymore.
It’s alright, little thief.
I gave you everything,
yet you still managed
to steal something from me.
Suddenly.
Mercilessly.
Too early.
Yourself.





Oh... I hurt now.
This made me very melancholy. It was beautiful