Dear Dad,
she’ll be
eight
at the end
of the month
and taller
than me
by this time
next year
she’s got big feet
and likes to part her hair
straight down the middle
like Alfalfa
she hates to brush her teeth
or be told to brush her teeth
she doesn’t like tomatoes
or putting things back where they belong
or being told to put things back where they belong
she likes to run the show
and for the most part
I let her
she makes straight As
and can comprehend
whatever she reads
and this helps her to write
her short stories, poems and letters
she takes ballet
and moves across the floor
with natural grace
and when we’re at home
I teach her karate
and we spar in the kitchen
and when we’re upstairs in the gym
she watches me lift weights
and does the same
with her weights
and we both love music
and dancing
we do a lot of dancing
and I think she’s awake now
‘cause I hear her feet
coming down the kitchen
yep
she’s awake
and reading this …
but before I go
want you to know
what an artist she is
her paintings and drawings
have such dimension
and feeling and movement
and something all her own
so for her birthday
this year
we’re going to turn a room
into an art studio
and let her paint murals
on her walls
the sun
and the clouds
the rain
and the snow
the moon
and the stars
and the green
that grows
oh, and one more thing
did I tell you she’s fearless
she has a pink go-kart
with a pink helmet
and a four wheeler
with a medal foot
and she’s pretty good
at golf
too
TL