Tomorrow's Wishes

As we struggle through hoping that these new drugs will buy us a few more months with my Dad, I came across this poem I wrote for him more than 10 years ago for father's day. It seems kind of fitting right now.

I love you Daddy.

Daddy

When I'm feeling down
and life seems rough.
I can always count on you
to help see me through.

With caring words
Like "keep the faith".
Or those great big hugs
that make me feel so safe.

Daddy's little girl
I want to always be.
Yet I hope for your strength
to reside in me.

These words I don't say
Nearly often enough.
I love you Daddy
In good times and tough.

The years pass us by
Ever so quickly.
But the times that we've shared
I will treasure so deeply.

The songs that we've danced to
The trips to the zoo.
The times that we've spent
Just me and you.

The fatherly talks
The advice that you give.
I will never forget them
As long as I live.

I love you Daddy
Truly I do.
Hugs and kisses
From me to you.

A Girl and her Swing
August 1998

A beautiful child
Feeling the warmth of the sun.
Sunlit hair and bare feet
Gently swinging in the breeze.
A smile...a giggle...
Sweet innocence.
A simple pleasure.
Just being a kid.

My Boy
September 1998

Bruises and scrapes
adorn both his legs.
My daredevil on wheels,
Oh how he begs...

The blood trickles down,
The tears how they flow.
Grab the boo boo bunny,
He cures all you know.

He's fearless, yet needs me.
He wants to be free.
Oh how I wonder, how will it be?
When he grows up to be much older and wiser than me.

Will he still need me?
Will he still care?
Will he still want me?
Do I dare?

But for now I will take him,
No matter how fickle.
For the day soon will come,
When the needs from me trickle.

I will always look back, and remember the days
when I was the one who knew all the ways
To make all his boo boos, his trouble and woes
All go away as I wiggled his toes.

At best I can only make a wise guess.
As the years past us by he will need me much less.
Gone will be the days of bruises and scrapes.
Of kisses on foreheads and pats on the back.

Replace with "good luck
And "please keep in touch"
You can only hope
You've instilled in him such.

Oh how I'll miss that sweet little boy
But oh how I'll love to see him all grown
And to tell all my grand kids
of the stories we've sewn.