I Should Have Embraced His Touch
I should have
embraced his touch
…when I had the chance.
My father,
gently wiping my ears of wax,
and smudging my face
to make sure it wasn’t dirty.
Nowadays, when I smell cigarettes
I can feel his hands
rub across my cheeks.
He brushed my hair
and straightened out the wrinkles
in my shirt.
Only dads do such things.
The intimate charismatic,
yet firm handle of affection
that fathers offer –
because they are paternal beings –
yes,
I should have
embraced his touch
…when I had the chance.
Written by Devans Eli. Copyright 2024 by Devans Eli. All rights reserved.