For Lillian

- castles -

(my youngest daughter

pointing to the turrets)

- High Park -

high in her stroller,

watching fast flights of people

chasing health

we live in a basement apartment

pay the rent

neglect the upkeep

place plants on window sills

watch water disappear

we mop paint from the walls

scrape the table after meals

toss toys into buckets

and smile over the way

she yells at us

one of the small ones

she sings and sings

she should be sleeping

but

- no -

never still

my youngest waves like catgrass

winds her watcher

and points

says she wants to go in

- in -

to the castles.