For my daughter

Amanda:

Each and every day
you make me proud
each and every day
With you
Every little smile
You give to me
Every little thing
You do

I revel in your
Accomplishments
I’m satisfied in
Your laughter
I level with you
In childish ways
Friends now,
Forever, after

Each and every hour
Spent with you
Each and every minute
Growing
Every time you get
Upset at me
For being bossy and
All-knowing

I treasure all
Your arty crafts
I hoard the gifts
You made
I cherish all
Your silly notes
I keep them in
My portemonnaie

Each and every second
Of being your Mom
Every single moment
With you
All the wondrous things
You’ve shown to me
All those planets we’ve
Been to

I wish I had
A thousand lives
To live with you
Again
I wish I had
A million tries
To give you this again

And so I try to
Capture “now” and “here”
The essence of what
Is you
Though yesterday is
Come and gone
Tomorrow brings
A new