At the beginning of time,

my father was reading to me from a big book.

Book of animals,

fairies,

princesses.

Now and then it gets dark in the book.

Like when the little girl

walks into the dark woods

And floaty eyes begin to glowwww……

No no Daddy, skip skip!

Read the part about the party again,

Pleeeease….

I only want to hear about all species,

real or imaginary,

having a dance party,

for all of eternity.

Then that age comes

And I’m attracted to the opposite ——

I chase tormented lovers,

Whom I set out to save

From their demons.

I yearn for difficult jobs,

Which elate me

Once they are overcome.

Life is fight

And toil

And grit.

When anything comes too easily,

I say no no, skip skip!

One day I find myself reading

To my Father,

On his hospital bed.

I choose the news to his usual likings —

Inflation, international conflicts,

And of course, the election.

His eyes are however faraway.

Slowly he says,

Skip those,

Tell me something good.

I find him a story about a pet parrot,

Being returned to the pet shop.

It quacks day and night

only rude words.

Dad smiles big and asks

What happens to that rascal bird?

I think of my eternal dance party

Of all species real or imaginary.

So I tell him,

The ending isn’t so good Daddy.

I’m gonna skip it.

He checks his tubes

from the machine,

And said to me,

Yes, yes. Skip, skip.