To Our Surrogate Daughter

What may I offer but my kiss, my hug . . .
Your eyes, your touch may resurrect the dead.
Still, you are struck by the eyes of men not
your husband’s. You say you live together
like brother with sister. You have done all
he feared. You eased a son’s deep, lifelong pain.
You gave what neither father nor mother
offered either of you. How I love you
completes the route my beloved’s heart takes.

When John flew to battle nature’s great fires
he lived because you stayed. You could not do
what you do now, where flames you can’t see flare . . .
Of all things that lie undone before you
go now to bring back water from your well.

to Lynn

(15 October 2011)

copyright 2011 by Floyce Alexander