from the perspective of your daughter, twelve years from now
I was Daddy’s girl until I found out that Daddy
had another girl and another girl and another girl
and he rotated through them
like revolving doors in the winter.
I was Daddy’s girl but then Daddy started sleeping
with someone half his age. I was Daddy’s girl
but then — I was Daddy’s girl but then — I was
Daddy’s girl but then Daddy had a habit
of making monsters out of other girls’ beds.
I was Daddy’s girl but then he stopped looking
for the monsters under mine.
I was Daddy’s girl but then he told Mommy
to go kill herself. I was Daddy’s girl when she actually
attempted to. I was Daddy’s girl until I noticed
he used women like he used cocaine.
I was Daddy’s girl until he traded me in. I was
Daddy’s girl until he found someone else. I was
Daddy’s girl until — I was Daddy’s girl until — I
was Daddy’s girl until he didn’t show up
for my sixteenth birthday. I was Daddy’s girl
except Daddy had too many girls.
I was Daddy’s girl and then I realized
I wasn’t one of them.