I love my problems
as though they were children
and I were their father
I reward them
when they say something witty
I whistle
when they are sad
they are
my flesh and blood
my progeny
I, their father,
was also
a problem
ontogeny
recapitulates
phylogeny
and they are
like me
at every stage
that's what I was like!
problem children
be good children
your mother
is going on
a journey
she will be gone
a good while
and maybe
you will not be
flesh and blood
when she returns
maybe you will
radiantly
transcend
these human
problems, my
flesh and blood