5/25/2003

Her
abandoning father
a good man
she says
sat
on a chair
in the corner
while others
socialized
in the center
of the room
in the dream
though gone
from her life
and the world
he is not
forgotten
having come home
at last
with little to offer
he nonetheless
gives it all
to her
his daughter
who says
she will take it
having
some time ago
forgiven him
the
man of mystery
she continues
to fathom
as best she can
from shards
of clues
she has gotten
her hands on
over the years
imagining life
in the interstices
of this man
whose departure
without looking back
shaped her predilection
for poor choices
in men
she says
but is one of
the happiest people
I know.