Paterfamilias Poem by David Grzan

Happy wedding with our children present,
Her boy my girl ere twain babes born did come—
The count tallies two boys charmed and pleasant,
Two girls fair and lovely—each a good plum.
My wife kept house as ‘twere our gilt Versailles—
Beset clock-round my firm career enthralled.
Tree-lined locus with rills and lochs nearby,
Customs treasured, though velvet dreams forestalled.
Fledglings on-high stooped low and durst defy,
Edict powers I claimed but feigned whilst reigned—
Blessings bibbed with precepts bore no reply,
Save for mean acts, cold shuns, brass spites entrained.
My covert cares buffered unseen troubles—
Their overt snubs spat from carefree bubbles.