06 His Only Daughter
I watch my daughter's reflection
in the bathroom mirror
while her father awkwardly combs
her clean, wet hair. He maneuvers
the brush as best he can
for a bald man with only brothers,
straining to tame
her blossoming curls-
the curls of her mother
the curls of his mother-
knowing full well he will go down
in the bigger battle
against this trait that first lured
him to her mother
and will someday leave him speechless
walking her stiffly through friends,
family, the photographer and God
to the hungry arms of another man.
Lori Boulard
http://www.poemhunter.com/
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