First

Down the sunlit road I drive
toward a travesty of relationship
and a beautiful-hearted, hurting little girl

I must drop off a package
wrapped in the future
and plastic
for a day that marks a first I will never see.

My eyes prick
and my nose runs
But my face remains
and remains

At least she will never know
that my heart has been torn from my chest today
Again, today

The sobs have been pushed down, and down
so the only thing she will see
is my joy of loving her

buoyant bliss in her hugs
crackling joy in each kiss
and a warm lamp for my heart
each time she reaches for my hand