DADDY DEAR

i. Untitled

Long ago told by his father,
Seek the golden key that will unlock

the door to your soul,
the divine ruler kept predatory eyeteeth

in a rock jar in a monument
soon to be toppled by earthlings

who’ll settle up before dirt settles down
on the tottering despot.

ii. “and forgive me

for hubris
I do while I do, everyone
we betrayed or did not,

because I -- I’m Dad’s son,
because I was born first,
because I just was.”

As he left her side,
skittered into the labyrinth at dusk,
Sis asked

on the family’s behalf,
“Why would you take that path?”
which isn’t answered.