Dad
tall, brown hair
extremely tall to a
six year old.
He is Daddy to me
but I know little of him
sometimes, he's at dinner-
once in a blue moon,
he has yellow wire-rim glasses
and darker skin than mine.
I wonder what he's like?
when he's happy, he smiles
when he's angry he yells a lot
if I'm naughty, he spanks me- I don't like it
yelling hurts my ears-ouch
please don't yell
Visit his office
big building, tall and brown
we wait to be cleared
What's with this secrecy? I'm only 8
My hazel eyes wide in wonder
colors: orange, brown and solemn tan
Up the stairs
hallways brown paneled silence
our feet pad softly on the carpet.
hi daddy!-wearing his work ID card,
Naming him something other than
Dad
Rare nights I saw him
One late night, 10:00
(late for me) he walks in the door
black briefcase down.
Boy, he gets home late.
Why do my friends' dad's come home
Early?
I'm 11 now; we're moving away.
Dad becomes a TV/VCR repairman
no more foreboding offices
security clearance, late nights
Home from school at 4 and
Dad! You're here!
I don't always take time to
talk with him-silly me
but something changes for the better
Dad.
tall with brown hair
he has yellow, wire-rim glasses
and darker skin than mine
sometimes he's angry and yells-
oops-so do I.
He's happy a lot too and he laughs-
LOUD and long and clear.
He likes sports and engineering and
books and poetry and music
I can always hear him
in a crowd.
He's good at math-my tutor in fact.
He has a new job now.
It's 7:00 or 6:30 even and he
walks through the door to have dinner with us
That's my Dad, I know him now.
That's my Dad, the best I could've asked for.
sjf
1986