Narrative

he was delighted 
to finally put down roots 
at the old cabin 
overlooking the creek 
it was 
but a mile or so 
from his work site 
and she would often accompany him 
to lighten his burden somehow 
he remembers a time 
when he still enjoyed 
the taste of jelly beans 
swirling in a vortex of sprite 
in his mouth 
they made the sounds 
of nursery rhymes 
against the back of his teeth 
that day, when the autumn sun 
played hide and seek 
between the maple trees 
their shadows 
morph into twisted shapes 
of titans, tip toeing 
on the forest floor 
in search of clouded lairs 
of pixies and unicorns 
it all changed 
that day 
when his daughter Maci disappeared 
all they found 
was her porcelain doll 
with the purple-blue dress 
and the yellow ribbon 
she wore in her hair 
that morning 
he still works 
for the same logging company 
although for years 
he’s been chopping off trees 
for different reasons

A father’s lament