A Wolf In Dad's Clothing

he appears to be a father, The job, the children, the minivan, white socks with black sneakers, a smile and a patient way He appears to be a father to the girl who has none, He appears in the closet after lights out, He appears outside the bathroom door when all else are asleep, He appears in the living room when all else slumber, He appears indecently exposed to the young girl who is not daughter but appears to be He appears to be the man people name a friend, He appears to be a man, When in fact he is nothing more than a wolf hiding behind the skin of sheep Eluding the eyes of those who can see but choose not to A wolf in grandmas bed fooling no one but everyone all at once A wolf in the forest of my life A wolf whose fangs hang like old pictures in my memories A wolf whose need tarnished my heart A wolf who left not a scratch, but a gash in my brain left to fester and drain me of reality for years, years until one day I said, No. No more. Until that day I stood over the wolf not him over me and said, No.