For My Daughter
want you to
remember this
for when
I’m not around
for when
the days are down
and God your only
for lest they forget
and they will forget
you mustn’t
and that’s important
you must know
who you are
in the blades of green
and in the bricks of ice
in the rainy night
and in the silent morning
you must know
who you are
and hold it
somewhere …
in your shell
family and friends
can only take you
so far
consumed as they are
the world does that
soon you will be
7
an important number
soon you will be
70
an important number
and even now
you know all
you need to know
so don’t forget
my darling, my dear
there is more to life
than what’s out there …
more than
coming and going
staying and leaving
you must look
with an inward eye
beyond
the hello
beyond
the goodbye
past the smile
the tear
and find
your 7
when you
already knew
what you need
to know
now
TL