I wish I were five again

Lying in bed

While you told stories

And I discovered fairy tales

And lands beyond

And wonderful words

That built my fascination for them

That I have now

And you sat by me

When I had nightmares

Tucked me in bed

And my hair behind my ears

And spoke softly to me

Of coarse assurances

And I felt safe

And you understood

What I was doing in school

And you taught me spelling

And maths

And about life

Unlike now

You give me blank looks

At mentions of my work

And I get frustrated
With explaining to you

Forgetting

You did all the explaining once

To a younger me

In my life

Were spent with you

My dear pa.