I hear jingling pockets at the grocery
and suddenly
all I can think of is you.
I am ten again, greeting you
at the door.
I tuck my head under your chin and note,
“Daddy, you smell just like pennies!”
and you only laugh
and hold me closer.
I am five and haven’t slept in days.
you, well, you
silently traipse outside with a broom.
And you never said anything, but
my hooting owl never again
sat in my holly tree
and stayed up all night with me.
I am eighteen now and here I am,
crying in the laundry room at 3 a.m.
But my handful of nickels reminds me.
You can’t chase my owls anymore,
but as for these demons of mine—
they will always vanish before you.
Feb 10, 2014
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:07 AM UTC
I hear jingling pockets at the grocery
and suddenly
all I can think of is you.
I am ten again, greeting you
at the door.
I tuck my head under your chin and note,
“Daddy, you smell just like pennies!”
and you only laugh
and hold me closer.
I am five and haven’t slept in days.
you, well, you
silently traipse outside with a broom.
And you never said anything, but
my hooting owl never again
sat in my holly tree
and stayed up all night with me.
I am eighteen now and here I am,
crying in the laundry room at 3 a.m.
But my handful of nickels reminds me.
You can’t chase my owls anymore,
but as for these demons of mine—
they will always vanish before you.
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