To Kate

 “You are my Sunshine…”

Always were,

Always will be.

When you were little

Your golden hair

And radiant smile

Made ME smile

In my heart 

And on my face.

Your wit and humor

(So Smith-like)

Your insight into people

(So Cooke-like)

Made me proud.

You love for Creation

And all it’s critters

Great and small

Filled me with joy.

When you were wounded

With a deadly hurt

I grieved with you

As one who had lost

A beloved friend.

Sturgill put words to your pain

And mine

I would sit listening to him

With tears streaming

For you.

When we wounded you

The pain was even greater

Joined with fear

That we had lost you

And the Sunshine was gone

Forever…

Forever.

But, the memories of touch

And affirming words

Of plains and mountains 

Of discoveries and wonders

Held…Held

And, we returned to one another

Wiser and more grateful

Than before.

You are

You have been

You shall always be

My Sunshine 

“You make me happy when skies are gray”

And…

When they are Not!

Love,

Papa

 To T

You were-even before you were born-

Full of wild energy.

Your mother

Despaired at that energy

Even as I stood off

And laughed.

In your youth

You channelled

That Wildness

Into your music

That I did not understand 

And loathed.

You worked,

You sweated, 

For me,

For the family.

Work was a release,

An affirmation,

A curse to be cursed.

You came to hate work

And, me.

And, in your adulthood 

With the help of your friend, your dear companion,

You found a channel for your wild energy.

You worked,

You forced that wildness, that energy

Into books,

Into math and science,

And,

ART.

In art you found your way

And began the path you yourself chose.

You hewed a way, so your own, 

And so unlike mine

(Or anyone else’s).

You found your way

And produced 

Strange, wonderful, and

Beautiful things.

And, so…

You have arrived 

Without finally arriving 

To the beginning

Of your life,

Your art,

Your purpose.

You have

Achieved,

Are achieving,

Shall achieve.

I am proud.

I am astonished.

I am full of a deep peace

And gratefulness.

Enjoy.

Rejoice.

And give quiet thanks

For the Wonder

You have become.