To My Daughter

I wrote this for of my daughter-to-be, read at a gathering in her honor at a downtown Austin music, poetry and theater venue, attended by and starring many of Austin's finest musicians some years ago.

Right now you're busy growing toes

and limiting your mother's wardrobe --

a tiny sailor floating in your own private sea,

the only creature in your world.

 

And yet, tonight, you are surrounded by friends,

Good friends who bring you your first gift.

And what a gift it is: the gift of music!

Music from their hearts, given freely to welcome your arrival.

 

How marvelous and fitting it is that you,

the child of an actor and an artist,

are ushered into life by such a shower of creativity and joy!

 

You will not remember this night --

but you will hear the story many, many times.

And, perhaps, years from now,

you may catch yourself humming some unfamiliar,

but strangely comforting tune --

and you will know its origin,

and you will smile.

Reviews

[bookworm]

Well well well, I'll be....what lovely sentimental and sweet words...I knew it! I knew you could write beautiful prose that's also heartfelt and filled with tender emotion...you in your guise of a hardened demeanor, camouflage cloak of make-believe...it was all a ruse! This is you and has been you all along...even waaay back when....very lucky daughter and very lucky wife to have such a thoughtful good human such as you in their lives...btw, the first stanza is especially good..."limiting your mother's wardrobe, a tiny sailor swimming in your own private sea, the only creature in your world"...great wording and imagery...I like this piece a lot...its revealing a very honest and vulnerable side to you....