Lily, at 6

She must be made of light.
She makes no sound
When she slips out of bed.
But, with her shoes on,
Lily skips or runs
With tiny footsteps
Everywhere she goes
Inside the house.
Her dalliance here on earth
Has just begun.
Her child’s laughter,
Light and clear,
So new, is heaven.
She is the soul of spring.
I love my girl
With all my heart,
And when she is not here,
The house is dark and still and sad
And, like me, misses her.
She is my sweet North star.


August 19, 2017