I Find Myself Drifting...

I find myself drifting in the vast space of memories past

when my two little girls on each 14^th of February

would question why no young man would admire

their beauty and downright adorable cuteness;

No prince or popper who would brave the ridicule

of exposing their crushes and chivalry that was due.

I could almost hear their prayers the night prior;

as they would wish they could, wish they would,

meet their handsome prince tonight…

As morning came, and with it Valentine’s Day

I would see them off to school;

All dressed up, hair in a doo, ribbons and curls;

nothing but a Daddy’s “I love you.”

I meant it!  Every word and gaze of admiration

but I was not, nor would ever be

their handsome prince from far far away.

But as they would scurry off to class,

unaware that this Dad had his own plans

to lavish his love on em anyway.

For me this day was a day of shopping,

hunting cards, candy, and flower.

My heart would skip a beat

as I would choose each color

to match the vibrancy of  their beauty –

inner and outer…

The investigation would continue

as I longed to discover

ways to express their worth and value;

things no young man had yet bravely attempted.

I would rush home with excitement

to display my boyish marvel

of these two beautiful little girls

who simply longed to be wanted.

I enjoyed every minute, each year,

as Father Time would allow

to display each item in sequence

in bedrooms for them to devour

when they arrived home from school

always more tangled than earlier.

It was in these moments I cherish the most

when they could for a brief minute

see through my eyes

a true father’s love and awe struck attraction

that would remain as it should

through the test of time.

~2011 Vaughn Wood