To My Daughters: A Poem

To my daughters

You were born from my heart,

A bond so thick a lion’s fangs

could not cut the cord of our connection.

To my daughters

You were born from my heart,

When I see you, I see myself.

When I hear you laugh, I hear your dad.

When I watch your tears fall, I taste salt.

To my daughters

You were born from my heart,

Though our DNA is different,

We are and will forever be, one.

We catch each other’s eye

We smirk at each other’s tones

Because there is a knowing that settles us both deep within.

To my daughters

You were born from my heart,

You have...and you will...make mistakes in this life.

Some will be easily repaired, others will carry lasting weight.

But my arms will always and forever be a soft place for you to land.

To my daughters

You were born from my heart,

There is no storm so great that the anchor of my love for you

does not run deeper still.

To my daughters

You were born from my heart,

No one, except God Himself, wants more good for you than I do.

I would cross oceans for you, and have.

I would fight governments for you, and have.

I would wage war for you, and have--on my knees.

To my daughters

You were born from my heart,

Your stories are marked by grief.

By early wounds.

By things you never should have had to endure.

But God! But God! He held you.

He held you in His gentle hands long before He wove our stories together.

He is the theme of your song,

And this mother’s heart will forever marvel--

Of the privilege it is to be your mom.

To my beloved daughters,

You were born from my heart,

My blood runs redder,

My breath reaches deeper,

Because of the gift of you.

Vada, age 9

Gemma-Elizabeth, age 25

My two beautiful girls ❤️