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This piece is dedicated to Dad, who wrote to me his Poem, "Esse," upon my leaving home at 18. This term, and the phrase is Latin. "Esse," the essence or
Song of existence. The complete phrase translates:
To Be Rather than to Seem.

Daddy beholds his newborn baby girl, his eyes mirroring her.
He receives innocense rekindled
deep within the belly;
she enfolds deeper still
seeds of her Self
to be years in cultivation.
Esse Quam Videri

Life-long companion Boarder Collie,
Sheppy's heart out-lives his body.
Mommy promises the Vet came to the car;
Daddy promises his girl of seven,
"No doubt, Dogs go to Heavan."
Esse Quam Videri

Mountain breeze songs on high.
Snake Creek rushing low.
Wild honey bee tree guards
her favorite fishing hole.
Dad coaches: "Be calm, be still;"
then while bee-buzzing with breezes sing
they will find no cause to sting.
Esse Quam Videri

On back porch sudden Summer storm brews
Mighty Cottonwood sways heavily
Cumulus Nimbus stack up as the Dragon,
Fire-breathing.
Dad regards her as if he's teasing,
"Want to see it disappear?"
Then, as if He and the storm are One,
wide-eyed she watches him
gaze into the Dragon. . . gone.
Esse Quam Videri

Finally at tomorrow's horizon
one day soon she'll fly, but
for now, Love and her Military beau
tempt she tell a lie. . .
off to California for a fling
she could go--
there is no REAL reason
Dad should have to know. . .
For these depths of cause at the time
unfathomable to guess--
first that she determined to ask--
and that he simply said, "Yes!"
Esse Quam Videri