Regal powers of the living room floor

my throne

is cereal-strewn carpet

my subjects

are building blocks

for a supersandwich

piled giggling

upon one another

after saving our world

I reign

in final judgement

of sharing

while minding the choking hazards

I am Dragon King

and riding workhorse

conquering fear,

hauling my sacred blood kin

for tickles and napping

this brood makes me stronger

though I drag my feet

and fall asleep

before my appointed hour

A Climbing Rock

A father’s job

is a climbing rock

to be that rough path

that winds to the top

to rule with love 

to tempt the fates

to put muscle on bones

and food on plates

hewn from

ancient tectonic madness

to guide through scrapes

and be a salve for sadness

unending

unbending and deep

to protect, defend

and lull to sleep

At the Tinkergarten Class

love

that boils down

to the pure enough

eyeing the girls

scooping mud

in headlong innocent greatness

among the clatter

and the chatter

of the catty city mothers

lone wolf father

proud among the pack

as his girls

school the other children

rule the roost

unafraid

hands deep in the ground

to let the cool Earth

bathe our good anger

content, for now

to not destroy this world

Dance of the Frozen Devils

the good marrow

can be ice and snow

as we clutch hands

and brace

against the windy cold

the warmth inside

feels better

with a thawing face

only after such blustery violence

do we find our place

drinking it all in deeply

the close comfort

leaves us sleepy

but we spark again

alive at the freezing source

to dance with fellow devils

joyous

as life runs its course

Father’s Day at the Carnival

a tinkering sun glints sharply

from spinning rides,

small feet scamper

on dry grass

through laughter and chaos

to an unhinged carousel

with a wink

from the leathered carney

clasping sweaty little hands

to thunder past

the shady barkers,

hurtling headlong

into years

of everyday madness

and new adventure

of whatever comes next 

Bounce University

an upward swing

from every down-pressed time

every fracture of spirit

every dying sign

basic joy of motion

as we laugh among the screams

primal, carnal joy commotion

powers scattered tribal dreams

jumping high

and shoeless

as if making pagan prayer

smiling and remorseless

as we immolate with flair

Playground Sneak

the stealth Dad,

trespassing

for children’s play

one eye over shoulder,

a gentle touch at the gate

dusk

cuts into afternoon

shepherd the young onward

through drizzle

and the quizzing eyes

of legitimate residents

outlaw father

stepping softly

across alien space,

a small price to pay

and will gladly pay again

Viking Diaper Skills

day worn and battle weary

returning from the fight after dark

even tantrums and night soil

is a hearty welcome home

life messes

a blessed test

to slay and bleed

and be the best

the line in the sand

the blood, iron and land

you can’t save your people

without conquering

the mini van

mastering each day anew

to be the stoic, strong and few 

Young Pirates of Flushing, Queens

young pirates

of Flushing, Queens

shout about treasures

they pull from their jeans

taste floor hors d’oeuvres

before mother can clean

but even at their worst

we’re living the dream

the pirates

of Queens

have promises to keep

they punctuate their orders

by stomping

their small feet

our joy ambition

is molding these girls

into warrior women

who conquer the world

Blizzard

the joy of snow

is to burrow deep

hearth fire blaze

inviting sleep

layer up

burst out

get bitten by the cold

freeze out cabin fever

with the ways of old

a heist of snow

frost-kissed faces

to blaze new memories

in familiar places