The photograph from my childhood
showed me
eyes squeezed tightly shut,
grasping the chain of the swing like it was the leg of God;
seated next to me
was my father
(who had no interest in riding the Wave-Swinger to begin with),
his eyes wide open,
hair blowing about,
hands in the air,
a huge smile on his face.
A perfect image to recall
the next time I feel the need
to cling to anything in fear.