I move through decades

I move through decades

At a glance.

She is a newborn

Swathed in love

The terror of it

Fragile and breakable

I catch my breath

For fear of fumbling,

Her downy head

Lolling frighteningly.

There are bubbles in the corners

Of her mouth

Is she fighting for breath?

What if she falls…

Men's hands are bananas

She is so vulnerable

I would give my life

Even now when

The presence of her

In the world is all I need

There is little left to barter

Other than a hold on reality.

She is more than I can bear

The impossibility of her.

As a woman she

Is incandescent

I am blinded by love.

Terror still lurks,

The foolishness of competency

Still lingers

When so much

Of life has been spurred

By a fear of

Inadequacy.

Outgrowing Dad is as it should be

My fight is to give

Her the belief she needs

To be free of obligation.

I tell myself

Though she is but a short step distant

It is a chasm

Of faux pas.

Inwardly

As always,

I struggle with efficacy

And the reality

Of our changed status.

I would give my life

For hers

But all she needs is love

Perhaps that has always been

Enough.