Suddenly it seems like

I am always here at the wrong time

flashes of pale bare flesh flicker in sight

when Daddy’s bedroom door is cracked

her skin the soggy color of Cheerios

made me wonder how much

of its bareness she let him touch

a woman Daddy treats like a mommy

fixing her lipstick in the bathroom mirror

being seen at our dinner table

watching things on our tv

sharing in our nightly prayers

saying no in response to Daddy’s

squeeze to join in and

lead them

too