A Song for My Pilgrim Daughter

To you, my daughter,

I always believed

That you will make me whole

The shattered pieces of me

Of yesterday’s falls;

Your soft hands will heal them

Your cry will sanitize them

To you, my daughter,

I always believed

That we would grow together

Learn when to sleep when you do

Accustom my tired eyes to your light

To you, my daughter,

I always believed

That I would be a hero

That you will not look at my faults

That my esteem will be in line with your faith

And as I hold you in my arms,

Your lightness is very deceptive

In many ways you are heavy with meaning

Your face does not carry sadness nor guilt

Your smile is pure, your laughter is divine

You don’t ask if my hands are dirty

You don’t cover your nose for the soot around

To you, my daughter,

I always believed

That I would make you all you want to be

To whisper to the stars

To eavesdrop the greatest secrets of the milky way

I could sell a few steps of my ladder

Build it upon yours so that you can reach the moon

It will delight me to see you rise

From below, I would be glad that you made it

To you, my daughter

I always believed

That you will be the Explorer of the Universe

To grow inwardly, outwardly

To learn everything, for all knowledge is good

Thus, having grown in wisdom, daughter,

I would be happy if you remain meek and humble

For there is nothing great as quiet wisdom

To you, my daughter,

I will share the secrets of the hills,

The echoes, the reverberations,

I would help you make small baby steps

As a little pilgrim

To you, my daughter,

I always believed

My sun would finally rise.