The day that my daughter
Starts elementary school
She’ll meet a little boy
And he’ll join our carpool.

With this little boy
Tea parties she’ll have
He’ll teach her to play soccer
He’ll make her laugh.

Together they’ll get older
Through the oddest of phases
But it’s my little girl
The little boy always praises.

They’ll go to prom
Walk in hand-in-hand
Each other’s secrets
They’ll always understand.

When the time comes
He’ll ask for permission
And my husband will say,
“On one condition.”

“Treat her well,” he’ll say.
“And if you don’t I will know.
She was my little girl
Not so long ago.”

He looked at my husband,
The boy—man, I mean,
And for the first time
A man he seemed.

He reached into his pocket
And took out the ring
He’d place on my girl’s hand
In the middle of spring.