Departure

She toddles over to the cat and sits
as if to place herself—a receptacle

for the parting kiss.  I bend lips
to her hair and whisper, I love you,

bye bye.  I believe she sends me
to gather fresh air, to harvest blue sky. 

From down there I reign in her like a king;
I turn in her like a door on its hinge. 

I depart, and she rises to remember:
a tower that bowed, breath, and prickly beard.

Tags: beard, daughter, father, king, kiss, toddler