My Little Princess

                       Poem

The world was quiet until you came,

A tiny gift with a beautiful name.

I held you close,so small and slight,

And promised to be your light in the night.

From that first breath, my life was changed,

The stars in my sky were all rearranged.

You grew so fast with a spirit so free,

A miniature version of the best parts of me.

With ribboned hair and a toothless grin,

You'd tell me the stories of where you had been.

In tea party circles and growns made of lace,

There's a royal glow upon your face.

I've been your dragon, your castle, your knight,

To keep all the shadows well out of your sight.

You'd reach for my hand with fingers so small,

And suddenly, I felt ten cubits tall.

The scrapes on your knees and the tears in your eyes,

Were clamed by my hugs and my soft lullabies.

Through school-day morning and bicycle rides,

I've watched you grow with a fatherly pride.

You're finding your voice and finding your way,

Becoming more brilliant with every new day.

Though "princess" is a title for a girl in a book,

It's written in every soft path that you took.

The years will continue to fly like the wind,

But I'll always be your very best friend.

You might outgrow the lap where you sat,

The dress-up shoes and the glitter hat.

But you 'll never outgrow the love that I hold,

A treasure more precious than silver or gold.

So walk with your head held high and so proud,

Your kindness is what makes you stand from the crowd.

No matter how far or how wide you may roam,

You'll always have roots and a seat here at home.

For though you'll grow up and the world you will see,

You'll always be a little princess to me.