For whom the bells toll

“Let me go”
Your mother said the same thing
Before she left us years ago
As I look at my little girl
Who’s her own woman now
And glance at the man
She proudly walks to–
A smile on his lips
And tears in his eyes–
I remember when
Your mother let me know
“Time is short so
Let’s see where this goes”
As we descended the chapel steps
Bells celebrating our beginning
So I let you go
Years ago
As you guided your bicycle
Like a wobbly-goblin
Down the sidewalk
I let go
When you boarded a plane
To find yourself
After your mother passed
And now I give you away
As your mother let herself go
To spend the rest of her life
With someone unexpected–
You glance over your shoulder
Like you did while riding the bicycle
Like you did before boarding the plane
Then give me that daddy’s girl smile
One last time
Before joining your husband
And just like that
The bells start to toll