I remember my Father denying
the sense of long haired men
claiming being born a man was set
At that age  I simply admired his strong words
as though he could  thumb score the world
So amazed  I left the ladybird book on the bus
He was surprised, but  not angry
gestures of tolerance went a long way.
After all a few years  early
he berated a Sunday  newsagent for
their archaic  sales  law on that holy day.
Being a daughter in retrospect had its advantages
a  strong  Father who could  navigate  the  rivers
seeing beyond present truth