The thing to remember about fathers is, they’re men.
A girl has to keep that in mind.
They are dragon seekers, bent on improbable rescues.
Scratch any father, you’ll find
Someone choked full of qualms and romantic terrors,
Believing change is a threat –
Like your first shoes with heels on, like your first bicycle
It took such months to get.

Walk in strange woods, they warn you about the snakes there.
Climb and they fear you’ll fall.
Books, angular boys, or swimming in deep water –
Fathers mistrust them all;
Men are worriers. It is difficult for them
To learn what they must learn;
How you have a journey to take and very likely,
For a while will not return.