In these waning days
when I might claim the age of
forty two let me
say without a doubt
there is something to be said
for a number to impart
the answer to life
the universe and everything
a collection of cells
congregating in
the semblance of a response
smiling tongues ululate
knowing ‘I love you’
is what we were meant to say
recognizing faces
as who we once were
who we may one day hope to be
Tag: DadPoem
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AugPoWriMo 3
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JulyPoWriMo 21
Find someone who looks
at you the way my baby
takes a look at her
super high contrast board book
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JulyPoWriMo 16
How much easier
to remember
your preverbal
existence
how else recognize
that cooing from
sights and sounds
familiar unknown
best respond with
your own
who knows how
to react instinct
if not built in then
part of the line
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JulyPoWriMo 13
I subscribe
to the scientific belief
that the instrument
beaming back images
with newly discovered
billion year old clarity
are only reflecting
the conditions
that made it possible
for me to take a snap
to capture the cat
stretching goodnight
at your general direction
in the bassinet
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JulyPoWriMo 10
Anybody else
look at the map
of states that have
banned abortion
and imagine they
make America look
like a dirty diaper?
Just me?
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JulyPoWriMo 8
A simple checkup
with shots
betrays the faulty evergreen
of consciousness
you mean she weighs as much
as the cats?
Why just yesterday
we went to Target for sleepwear
she has now outgrown
even that a few weeks ago now
you can feel the acceleration
as the weeks shorten
daylight past its pinnacle
we barely punctuate with
sighs too deep for words
just the recognition
she grows into smiles
and occasional grimaces
that will only deepen
as we stay younger than we think
watching the reflection age us
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JunePoWriMo 30
Cringe at history
playing out before our eyes
while I change diapers
though already full
sometimes she squeaks out some more
now unencumbered
all that we can do
is clean it up as before
we thought we were done
there is always more
but when you least expect it
you’re caught unawares
the remedy in your hands
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JunePoWriMo 24
Unfathomable
the child I hold in my arms
has fewer rights than
she had when she was
born seven weeks ago now
too late to go back
to when she had more
agency as a fetus—
this future voter
will always know what’s at stake
—And as for the court
the Wordle today is “smite”
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JunePoWriMo 23
Now we’re kinda sure
that facial expression is
not just lots of gas
but a fair amount
of real joy with a bit of
mirror for measure
still can’t quite believe
we made you inasmuch as
you make us know joy
shining back at each other
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JunePoWriMo 22
I could remember
what it was like weeks ago
before all of this
I would be remiss
to mistake nostalgia for
life without your face
before and after
have never been quite so stark
thank god you’re after
I can’t remember before
Joshua Keiter 