As a Father of Daughters

Hannah Aizenman

As a fathom of waters 
 
As a keeper of otters 
 
As a fan of the Dodgers 
 
As a foremost scholar 
 
As a leaver of mothers 
 
As a giver of quarters 
 
As a failure of rathers 
 
As a faithful supporter 
 
As we gather together 
 
As a fear of disorder 
 
As a phantom of operas 
 
As defender of borders 
 
As a frayer of wires 
 
As a friend of the doctor’s 
 
As an author of gospels 
 
As a field after slaughter

Copyright © 2022 by Hannah Aizenman. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on March 1, 2022, by the Academy of American Poets.