princess dada

you gape-eyed wonders
misty heads instigating endorphins
the smell of you against my eyelids
peeling me back 
mashing fingers against my cheeks
your eyelashes catching me
like the teeth of a flytrap
disappointment or hunger in your pupils
amazement at the way light moves
or books turn, page and plot
I couch you in stories
your favorites, the princesses

any species of princess, doesn’t matter
elephant to fairy to Nightcrawler to
princess dada mirroring your grin
lips that curl back
sometimes gums or more
doctor princess dada 
as you press your stethoscope to hear
my doctor princess dinosaur dada heart
deep down in its caged teeth,
roaring its feral princess cry