In her daydreams she dreams a man
who praises her always and lifts her high,
who doesn’t smell of ashtrays,
whiskey, garlic, wet basements or sour socks
plays badminton and croquet with her,
shows her how to pitch a horseshoe,
toss a baseball like her cousins in the little league
He teases her in funny ways and not in front of friends,
tickles her, rubs her neck, carries her when she’s tired,
laughs ha!ha! kiddo when she says things wrong
chases her in the backyard grass, wrestles her,
lets her have two dips of ice cream, another piece of cake,
makes sure she brushes her teeth and folds her clothes
He understands what’s she’s thinking with a quick wink
No scolding or name calling or bad or grouchy feelings
Not knowing quite how to say it yet but when she does
she may be able to write one day that he was
fervently endowed with all the best wishes,
the highest hopes, all the good graces
of second fathers