On the Stairway

“Father,

  why am I so much smarter than you?”

(She smiles through my frown.)

“Daughter,

  I dropped you on your head one day

  while we walked the stairway down.”

“Why do I have much more money than you?”

(Her eyes give hint of pity.)

“I'm still paying for the violin you forgot
  after just three lessons in the city.”

“Will I make the same mistakes as you?”

(Her jaw seems taut with fear.)

“They'll look quite different from the front
  and too much like them from the rear.”

“So, why am I much smarter than you?”

(Again she smiles and refills my cup.)

“Father dropped me on my head one night
  as we walked the stairway up.”

On the Stairway 

Bob Komives

Fort Collins © 1994 ::  9407