One day I’ll have a daughter

I’ll take her on a plane

To visit my parents And she’ll ask me

As we stand on the cliffs

Overlooking an endless serene sea

“Why did you leave California”

I’ll look at the palm trees

The infinite blue sky

And give her an answer

She’s too young to understand

“This place is not right for me” Unsubstantial is what I mean

She’ll hear the hushed roar of the waves

Soak up the endless sunny days

Collect sea shells with sand scratching between her toes

And wonder why I chose to live somewhere cold

If I do my job right

Hopefully she will never grasp

My burning need for the chaos of change

Character grows from the cracks

Autumn leaves and snow covered branches

Fill my heart more than 350 days above 60 degrees

Perhaps she’ll grow to be confident And kind hearted without a catch

Then she can move to the coast In competition with no one

And surround herself with people Who can accept an easy life