CAUGHT
The Tomato-coloured Couch 9:13pm
He stole That Moment, Bastard
My Daughter was in Her Second Summer
when She waved Good-bye
to a Friend I’ll never see again —
held in Her Father’s Arms
My Little Eliza
mouthed the words
uttering Them distinctly —
They were Two Words
I tried not to hear —
He bastardized that moment
in Her very early speech
as He peeled off
My Darling’s “See Ya!”
& caught Them in His too quick
paws
Hand Over Those Words!
Let Me Use Them
as freely as You Do!
I want My Freedom Back
I’ll never get Eliza’s Moment
but I can try to have My Own
without Your constant reminder
even in a petty catch phrase
which seems to have gained in popularity
since I first heard You sing it out
when you were My Doctor
twenty-five years ago
Joanna Gilman Hyde 