Dad

my favourite playlist
a collection named for him
paternal moniker, paired
with this film photo — him
smiling last Christmas

a child, I knew him 
by song — he was Flight
of the Conchords
“Business Time”
and “Hurt Feelings”

I pieced together life
behind that soundtrack 
he’d play a great
album of ’94 — tell me
about gran… heartbreak

we’d sing drunken
karaoke in unfamiliar towns
know all the right words 
the strangers would see
I am his daughter

his favourite playlist
now is mine, a collection 
I built since leaving
home — music 
modelled after him