Dear Dad,
she just sneezed
down the hall
dust or dog or bunny or bird
and she was just here
a second ago
with her pirate patch
but blinked
five now
and too beautiful
for words
and has no idea
an inquisitive child
sensitive and serene and silly
there’s a look she can give
like she can see past it
all your flaws
and she tells you like it is
then does a little jig
and screams for ice cream
and a cone
but never eats the cone
just the cream
and she loves salmon
swimming in malt vinegar
and pours too much soy sauce
too much salt
too much lemonade
too much Mr. Bubble
and she’d rather the frosting over the cake
and when she finds a penny in the parking lot
she thinks she’s rich
and she is
TL