[PWilly22]

For whatever reasons

mom gave her up.
Lucky for us
she was wanted by nice people
the only parents
she ever knew
the only name
she ever had.

A doting, widower father
thought it time to tell her
pregnant now herself
the story.
Overwhelmed at first
she came to me
bravely holding back
hot tears.
We talked and cried,
and hugged a lot,
and understood
what a fine life
she's had, and thought
how good it is to have
each other.

For the rest of her life
she'll wonder
who looks back
from the blonde hair
and blue eyes in her mirror,
and will reappraise
the expectations
of her youth.
And she'll know
she's been loved
by mother and father,
grandparents,
uncles and aunts,
friends, and
baby and me.

Pat Willingham
Summer, 1987