MY DADDY TURNED 80

By Farah Lawal Harris, 2024

Daddy:

2 syllables that mean the world to me.

Caregiver,

source of laughter,

collector of tears,

instiller of fear.

I still remember the sound of

squeaky brakes on your silver and black taxicab,

polyurethane seats you could wipe up with ease,

in the back seat sharing a 20 piece chicken McNuggets with my sis

back when Mickey D’s served dark meat.

Just riding along with my daddy.

Daddy,

smartest man I know.

Who else can tell you the Latin roots of the words we use,

recite the morning Fajr prayer,

list all 54 countries in Africa and the orishas of Ifá,

identify all the vertebrae in the spine,

describe in detail the workings of the digestive system,

recall world capitals and the geographical locations,

operate with integrity and wisdom,

and be loved by all their children?

My Daddy.

My Daddy turned 80,

twice as old as me.

We don’t look like what we been through.

God continues to bless me and you,

Daddy.

I thank you for living,

for continuing to fight,

for modeling what true love looks like.

May God keep healing your body like he did mine,

inshallah.

My love for you grows and grows and grows.