Father (first published in NST)

i went to my father
and told him,
'i would like to be married.'

first he went quiet
and that got me worried.
oh dear, thought i
perhaps he thinks me
too young
or that i should complete
my education
or that my sister has to
marry first
or that we could not
afford a marriage

almost a full minute later
with all seriousness
he uttered
'would
next
thursday suit you?'

(in memory of those who have helped me laugh back at life.)