happy father's day, she says

my daughter,

who i call kitten,

calls from Seattle

to wish me a happy

father's

day.

yes, i got the card, i tell her

and the bottle

of Old Spice cologne,

and the subscription

to the New Yorker

Magazine.

not to mention the latest

biography

on Bob Dylan.

thank you, i tell her.

so when are coming

back east to visit?

when are you getting married,

when are you going

to have kids

and make me a grandfather?

please tell

me that you are still tattoo

free

and no longer vote

democrat

or support your communist

mayor.

no nose rings, right?

no arrests?

gotta go now dad,

she says.

someone's at the door,

and i have

a kale wrapped

salmon in the oven,

the smoke

alarm is going off.

kisses.

love you.