beware when you fall in love
with an artist
be it a painter, a singer, or poet

for the artist will
paint you
with strokes and hues
in shapes of every kind

sing about you
with heartbreak lyrics
and feelings which rhyme

write about you
with the simplest words
and a secret message she wants to say

beware of the artist,
and her love
one wrong move
and you're an artwork in her display

Daughter
So young
In my mind you sleep
Your tiny hands
The love in your eyes
It will be my downfall

Daughter
Someday I'll meet you
And show you the world
Take you down paths
That I once walked

Daughter
So warm
I'll sit along
Your hospital bed
Through your first ever sleep
From the moment you're born
My life won't be the same

Daughter
I wait
Because I know it's for you
The piece of my life
That will fix me forever

Daughter
You're everything
All that I need
The clasp of your hand
I know will complete me

Daughter
You're older
Have a child of your own
But always I love you
The seed of my heart.

You may have died young,
        but as long as
        my words live,

*You will never grow old.

When she reads, the way her
Tongue peeks out slightly
As if trying to taste the words,
Makes a full-day poem worth
Every second of dropping ink.

I love it all, she'll say.    
Even if only the first few
Lines make the side of her
Mouth curve in comprehension

The way it does when she's
Warm from being
Agreed with by whom- or
Whatever's before her.

She'll love it all, as long as I have
Words and blood in me.
She'll love it all, as long as I have ink
And we have history.

There are little diamonds
Delighting her
In the bits of white between
Every word.

Her still warm
Imprint on the bed
Body and
Wings

Feathers on whole
Pillows

I wake up in Heaven
Alive.