—from the father’s view, losing his daughter to marriage


I heard her mood whisper softer
until sadness was
her voice. Eyes

held mine still, as if looking
at her froze me. I did
not know what

thoughts made her this way; I
did not ask. She approached,
hugging

my neck as strongly as I’ve
ever been embraced. As
a man, we’re taught

not to cry, but I missed that
day’s lesson. My eyes became
the mountains in which

waterfalls exist. My face, red
& becoming excessively
warm. She looked

& explained that it was “time.” I looked
at the calendar, wishing this day
would instead be

a different one. I ran my eyes across
hers again. Remembering. My
little girl,

grown and going. We said goodbye
with crying tongues. “Hurry, before
my hands never let you go.”

As she turned, yesterdays became quickness
across my eyes. & her steps forward began all
of how tomorrow will raise her.