PAPA CAN YOU HEAR ME

Photographer Unknown

You're beginning to fade, Papa,

in the photo of you

and Mama and me

but I'm only two years old

and don't see you disappearing

yet.

I still feel your arms

around me at bedtime,

know warm goodnight

kisses and hugs,

breathe the man-smell of you

when you tickle my ears

with your nose.

Tomorrow, Papa,

a picnic please?

Let's go to the beach

where that light is so bright

I can still see

little girls in your eyes...

excerpted from the poem "Invisible" in my first book--
"Saturday Nights at the Crystal Ball"

published by Cross+Roads Press, currently out of print