I used to think, whenever he would say
“I’m such a duck,” he had it wrong. Dismay
I felt – that couldn’t be – it was a bid
to make me laugh and reassure amid
our hug – “I love you. You’re my man, okay?”

In time I knew I shouldn’t have thought nay.
It turned out that he did have feet of clay.
(My ego might have listened to my id?)
I used to think…

I have another chance to learn, today.
My daughter’s history is on display.
We’re old but I’m attending to my kid –
I’m understanding what she felt and did.
I see her, and I’m finished with the way
I used to think.

(Rondeau)