How to Fix a Child

by Franco Bertucci

I was beginning to fear
that I had scarred her forever,
that her innocent self would need years of counseling
and art therapy
to overcome the mistakes of a fumbling father
whose biggest regret was that he had made his daughter cry
for no good reason
when she was four.

Then I did something that transformed her
into a secure and happy little person.
I gave her food.
That did it. The storm was over.
But we were drenched and there was debris everywhere.
Must all fathers be blind and dense?
I took a nearby purple crayon
and helped myself to a little art therapy,
mopping up the puddles of our souls and soothing our heaving chests.

Awkward Guy

Poems and other embarassing things. 2010 Franco Bertucci