I still find ways to see my future
In your eyes.
My child on your hip,
Soft kisses on cold nights,
Arguing over the kitchen tile
Because you always liked
The white ones.

I know how to force love on my lips
Now.

I always did want to be
The jewel on your crown.
Patient and kind and
Beautiful.
But I need your kind of polish these days.
A bit of time
Maybe.

Tell me.
Should I begin to open my windows,
Let the fresh air in,
Instead of waiting for you
To bring the smell of spring?

Should I decorate my cheeks
With my youth and life,
Certainty and confidence,
Or with your tired kisses?

Tell me, teach me
How to fix this.
Teach me
How to leave you.

He taught me
That its much easier to leave
Than it is to wait and say
Goodbye.

I've measured her right
Little toe. It's exactly 16mm.
When she grinds her teeth in her
Sleep, just rub her jaw gently.
She'll stop without
Waking up.

If you read to her in bed, she'll
Watch you wide eyed from
Your shoulder; study your features
As you speak.
She'll stop you if you lose her
Between two words she doesn't
Quite understand.
She'll thank you for explaining.
She's worth it.

She's allergic to sugar, dairy, gluten
And eggs. I'll mail you a hundred
Recipes I've created for her.
Tell you all the tricks
So I know she'll eat.
You get used to the hassle.
She's worth it.

She's crazy about cartoons.
Let her watch them; seeing her
Laugh beats the game
Hundredfolds.
She'll love you for letting her
Read for hours and tell you about
The story.
She'll be so beautiful
When concentrating.
Give her space. Yours included.
She's worth it.

Let her grow.
Let her learn in her own time.
Let her be who she is.

She was weaker before me.
Now she's strong enough
To stand up and do the right thing,  
Though both our hearts broke
In the process.

If she goes, let her.
Help her out, send her off
With blessings.
Say to yourself I'd rather see her
Happy without me than
Unhappy here. You'll
Mean it.

You'll cry your eyes out
And scream at the skies. Then
Thank God for every minute
You spent as her man.
They were worth it.

You sweep my hair back,
Nestle your lips into my shoulder.
Sweet and gentle
Kind and soft.
You plant your kisses like this.

I carry your gardens on my shoulders,
My love.