To My Stepfather

You showed me tonight

how our old kitchen barometer works –

telling me about mercury,

explaining its pressure on the earth,

and showing me

the coil and chain inside the glass

working together to position the needle of the barometer.

That’s the first time

anyone ever explained it to me.

I never had a father

to explain things to me

before (who I really remember).

Tonight,

you made me realize once again

how much I have missed all these years . . .

And now,

 I know you . . .

and I’m glad.