Exult

The other day,

I didn't want to vent to my wife;
I wanted to share something good,
but I wasn't sure what to call it.

(How sad we don't already

Have a catch phrase for doing that.)

"Can I...

Brim to you,"

I ventured.

But that didn't feel right.

"Can I revel with you,"

Didn't sound right either

At all.

"Can I exult to you,"

I finally tried

And felt satisfied.

"Yes,"

She replied.

So I did.

Then she did.

It seemed to provide

Much more 

Stabilization

Than usually comes from venting,

Which we think will calm us down

Since we're "blowing off steam"

When aren't we really just

Re-inhaling it?

Playing

My daughter and I play
guitar,
with stacking toys,
the diaper bag,
my lip and bicuspids.

We laugh and connect
and I realize that neither of us
will remember these moments
distinctly
and that's
sad.

Then why do them?

I suppose they form some sort of
ineffable element of our identities
individually as well as
in our father-daughter dyad.

This play like rain drops,
not distinguishably preserved
yet making the ocean of our lives
happy.

Suddenly with No Surprise

Suddenly, with no surprise,

I find myself almost 30
And realize

There are still people my age

Traipsing about

Still unsure what to do with this thing called

Adulthood,

As if it's an item of clothing

Gifted from a relative

That one's obliged to wear

Though it never fits quite right,

Always the armpits sag too low

And you can't help but alternate

Between wearing it

And hiding it,

Bucking up, grinning and wearing it

Or cringing and eschewing it

To the Goodwill pile.

I wonder, since probably that single demographic

And even myself

Who has a steady job, a mortgage,

A wife, son, daughter, and dog,

Still kind of feel like 

What seems to be a later version of 17,

If this infantile octogenarian in my mind's eye

And her motherly daughter
In the seating area at the doctor's office

Simply feel like they are

17 version 5.0
(or 17 Cougar for Mac users).

I guess I'll know someday,

And I'm sure it will seem suddenly

But 

It will be no surprise.