From Father to Daughter

This poem is something I wrote for my sister today. I felt this is what my dad would say today if he was here to speak to my sister on her wedding day.

My firstborn:
To be your dad, I’m so proud and honored.
You have been all I could ever ask for in child.
I watched you grow from childhood to adulthood.
I tried to be the best dad that I could.
You’ve grown to be a beautiful woman.
But you will always be my little girl.

I know you will make a great wife.
I know your marriage will endure the test of time.
I trust Mavi with you.
In my heart, I know that he’ll be a great husband to you.
May God continuously be with you in this new chapter.
I hope that it’s all you’ve dreamed of and more.

I know I’m not able to be there physically,
But in your heart, I reside spiritually.
So don’t feel sad that I’m not able to walk you down the aisle.
I’ll be watching from Heaven above, with a big smile…abundantly proud…
Knowing that, today, my little girl is the world’s most beautiful bride.

Virtuous Patience

Good things are worth waiting.
So I’m practicing patience,
Hoping to discover her virtuous nature,
Trying to make her my culture.
Of her heart’s language, I want to be the translator
On her soul’s search, I want to be her compass and her treasure.
Want to be the dew on her blades of grass,
The answer before she asks…
The seconds, minutes, hours of her day.
Want to be the painter of her smile throughout the day,
For it’s my masterpiece.
Of her love, I want to be the recipe
So my words can satisfy her appetite.

When she feels my strength,
She’ll never know she was weak.
In the midst of her frustrations,
I’ll be her spirit’s levitation.
In her rush, I’ll be her patience.
I’ll dry her tears before they fall.
Before she dials, I’ll answer the call.
I’ll be her cool Autumn that follows her Summers,
The warm Spring after her Winters.
In her chaos, I’ll be her serenity.
Don’t know how long she’ll keep me waiting.
If she exists, maybe she’ll reveal her existence.
But I continue practicing patience…
Hoping to, one day, entrap her virtuous nature.

Want My Own

Being on the scene is no longer appealing.
Sleeping around is no longer fulfilling.
Hanging around the guys…it’s fun but something is missing.
No more wasting money, buying drinks.
No more one-liners or baseless compliments.
No longer will I allow my bullsh!t to cover my eyes.
I’ve thrown it out the window. I’ve dismissed it.
Leaving the hurts and frustrations in the past…will no longer allow it
to characterize me.
Used to question it,
But now I’m ready for commitment.

I want my own.
Tired of carrying out reruns of the same show.
When I’ve looked for it, I’ve looked in the wrong places.
When I’ve waited for it, things have gone at a snail’s pace.
Want no more situations where I’m pretending.
Want to say those three precious words and it actually have meaning.
Want to feel refreshed when I hear that voice.
Even invite the arguments to enjoy making up afterwards.
When I’m struggling, I want ‘her’ to pick me up.
When I’m going through, I want to lie in ‘her’ arms and not always have to be tough.
Want to feel that distinct touch that has its own signature.
Want ‘her’ to be the axis on which my world spins around.
Want ‘her’ to know that I want ‘her’ to hold me down.
‘She’ doesn’t need to build me, but accept me.
‘She’ doesn’t need to change me, but enhance me.
Give me something whose foundation stands on trust and truth…
Something that’s strong and endures
The test of time.

Man wasn’t made to live alone.
My prize, where can it be found?
I refuse to pick a number and be an option.
No more converting simple things into rocket science.
I want my own.
I’m ready for ‘her’ to step in.
I’m prepared for ‘her’…ready to be ‘her’ man.
Tired of congratulating others on their findings.
Behind my smile, I’m tired of hiding.