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Saturday, December 31, 2011

The Beginning and the End


Thus ends the year. Though much has been taken, much abides, to quote Tennyson’s “Ulysses,” and something big begins: My daughter Milo became engaged as autumn turned to winter, to a man we love too. The rainbow photo, taken in the mountains of northern California, is for her, my child who has always loved this symbol of hope.

This final post of 2011 is for love. Love is not blind. With eyes wide open, love sees, bears, believes, forgives, and celebrates. Love does fail, but it can dust its mucky knees and stand again. Its strength is tensile, a bond capable of stretching beyond the reach of human arms.

My daughter said I have never written a poem for her. So I wrote one last night for her and the man she loves, whom we met for the first time at a storage facility where our daughter lived with her best friend in the manager's apartment. With their permission, I share it with you on the last day of a hard year that ends with rejoicing, in love.


My Child’s Freshly Minted Fiancé

We did not have to wade
through an ocean of assholes to reach you;
you, unbidden, appeared,
our Knight,
to claim our daughter’s hand, heart, hazel eyes
laughing as we had never seen her eyes laugh
before
you came.

You, unbidden, appeared,
completely unexpected,
a Knight in a storage yard where junk is gold,
where junk unwanted yet unloosed is locked
behind blank doors
in an undead limbo between lost
and claimed, paid for but
discarded.
You came

unbidden, unexpected,
from that storage yard into our daughter’s heart,
our Knight
in chain-link fencing, your clear eyes kind
and your mind keen, seeing in our daughter
that great beauty
blooming
like a flower in a crack in the asphalt
before
you freed her.

Milo and Kaleb

12 comments:

Brian Miller said...

yay i am happy for them...and wish them all the love in 2012...and some good wishes thrown in for you as well..smiles. happy new year chris...

Terra said...

I love the image of the knight here. Great poem and a 2012 to look forward to and even wedding bells ahead.

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Blink, blink...such a way to enter into a new year...hope for all of us, where we least expect it?

Lolamouse said...

Both of you are blessed that such a Knight entered your lives. Have a great New Year, Chris.

Anonymous said...

I'm having a hard time tonight and I desperately needed to read some happiness. This sealed the deal. Congratulations to your baby and goodnight to you.

I will see you on the other side of the year.

The Bug said...

What a great way to end the year! I love the poem - especially the part about not wading through assholes, and the part about him freeing her. I wish them a long happy marriage!

And I wish you a fabulous 2012!

G-Man said...

Chris...
It has been a trying year for you, but you have found the time to be supportive, and a very class act!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Happy New Year...
Loved your poem, your daughter is beautiful like her Mom.

Lou said...

I felt bittersweet happiness when my daughter phoned to say she was engaged. It's truly starting a new life as a "woman" in her own right. She married a fantastic guy, just made me a grandmother this year! Look forward to that next stage in your life, Chris (whenever it arrives).

My granddaughter taught me something about the ebb and flow of life. She makes me want to be the best I can be (but not a Marine).

Wishing them the blessing of true, unconditional love!

Zed said...

There is something in your writing that tends to render me speechless, to find me on my knees. You have that power in your poetry- to move, inspire and awaken. Thank you for a year of great shift, of change and for being real. As always. beautiful poem, Chris, may they be happy and blessed. And strong. Much love and best wishes for 2012 (lets hope those Mayans were wrong..?) BIg hug Z xx(justntliketheothers)

T and T Livesay said...

HURRAH for not needing to wade through the ocean of assholes .... that is a gift. I hate that part of watching my daughters date.

Congrats on a good find!

T.

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

SWEEEEEEETTTT!!!

:) I love rainbows too, they are VERY special to me :)

Syd said...

Wonderful news! I think that making that commitment is awesome.