Riley Connor

You're small, but full of life
You're young, but there's age in your eyes
To see the innocence in you,
is to see the face of God

I would name you Riley Connor
and in an instant, I would love you
Life forever changing,
amidst this creation-mix
of skin and bones and soul

She would carry you for awhile
Then in an instant,
you would vacate

For a second, I would cry for you
I would shed tears for bringing
you into a world so full of hurt

But then, later in the day,
holding you or looking at you,
I would cry for another reason

because you are mine.
and I am yours.
and come fire, rain, demons, or death,
that's never going to change.

I would name you Riley Connor
Not in memory of anybody,
not because Daddy's Daddy's middle
name once sounded like that
but because I wanted to

Scared to death, you'd make
the long venture to your new home.
I would do my best to
pretend to know what I was
doing. I would fail you often.

But never on purpose or with
evil intent.
But just because I was learning
how to cope with something
new and awe-inspiring.

In the night, when you sent
that shrill alarming call,
I would come to you.
And hold you. And whisper in your
ear that in me, you have found
a true companion and protector.

In me, for now, you have salvation.

I would watch you sleep. because
nothing brings peace like watching
a beautiful woman sleep. and I would touch
your face - you, the result of a love
like no other, would fill my heart
with the cement of life. it would be heavy,
dripping love from its ventricles, falling like
rain drops on your head.

i'd kiss your mother and thank her
for you. for what she went through. for
sharing this with me.

we'd look down on you
and know that God exists. we'd look down on you
and know this is for real. and everything, from this
day to the last day, will be done for you.

you, my Riley.