Further reflections on my eldest daughter turning 13:
Heaving Heard the Warning by Michael Doyle On Saturday night as I kissed you into sleep There was a part of me that wanted to keep This moment forever as a sacred treasure That meant more to me than words can measure I knew that with the first light of morning Your childhood would fade, having heard the warning All those memories wrapped in a bow of childhood Some happy, some were sad, but all of them good I have watched all of your days come and then go Each moment more precious than the last since first hello As you looked up at me with you crystal blue eyes And now I was waiting for the first beams of sunrise Knowing that though Sunday seemed just like Saturday Magical to me in all ways, a change had come into play Yours has been the heartbeat within my own heart And now I have to let go just a bit and let you part As you become your own as really you've always been Always one of my two most favorite of human beings It's hard to write this poem with tears in my eyes But as we say goodbye to childhood, it helps to realize The beautiful young heart and soulful young lady you are Unafraid to follow after and pursue your own North Star And as we cuddle and watch the movie you hold my hand As if to let me know that you love me and understand That it's not easy to let go of the little girl you were It's seemed as though the days have passed in a blur Since born that day and you smiled into my camera's eye That I hid behind for fear that anyone might see me cry Tears of love for the greatest gift that God has ever given To me and knowing that in teaching you to live I was living The greatest truth known to a man, that of loving his daughter Each moment a moment lived in sacred prayer as your father In five more years, society will label you as a grown adult And I am sure that you will do all things as you ought If you stumble I will be there to catch you safely in my arms Even as I watch you enchant some young man with all of your charms Teaching you by example and by word that each year is to revere And that though life can be tough, you will persevere As you sail into this realm of new and uncharted territory I look forward to every word of your special life's story (c) August 5, 2020 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
