An Early Ode to Daughter Becky

Becky with her son Randy

She was in the service like her
grandpas, now a nurse
(my mother's dream) so far away
and yet connected to the family still,
dealing, struggling with the challenges
of single motherhood, of life, but
celebrating even more the blessing
of her precious son, a balance of the
way that she was raised and new ideas
that she's discovered since. There's
backbone covered by her beauty,
stubborn streak demanding
the delivery of justice for her child,
herself, for those she loves, impatience
dancing with her faith that
EveryLittleThingGonnaBeAlright, Bob
Marley said so but she heard it first at home
and church, a positivity that stuck
and keeps her singing on the days
that want to drag her down, the people
who are selfish with her energy,
thinking they might steal some for
their own. She'll protect herself, though,
knowing that her heart is worth it,
knowing that she's counted on,
knowing that one day her prince
will come but in her fairy tale, the
dragons have already been destroyed.
That is my hope, at least, sweet daughter.


(c) Ellen Gillette, 2014

Our younger daughter has a birthday coming upmid-November, and I bought her a card today that didn't even come close to saying what I want to say.  This is an early birthday poem, Becky... I'll mail the "real present" in the next week or so :)