He Carried Her

 for Sarah D'Amico

He carried her around the house,

from window to window,

pointing out things to view.

And with a small,

three-year-old finger,

Sarah pointed too.

And repeated the words she

heard from her daddy: 

"tree, flower, bird".

At age five he carried her

into the family canoe on the Flat River;

counting turtles on the rocks and logs.

He ran beside her at seven,

as she wavered and learned

to ride a two-wheeler.

He picked her up in high school

when she was exhausted from

track and cross-country practice.

He brought her to college;

University of Michigan,

and praised her for good grades.

And brought her home, age twenty,

that tragic November,

when her only brother died.

He said, "Goodbye, I'll miss you,"

when she left home to explore her life;

Hawaii, California, Utah, Colorado.

He applauded her guitar music,

as she wrote her own songs

and shared her smooth voice.

He carried her in his prayers

every time he thought of her

making a positive impact in the world.

His eyes teared each time he read her

sweet notes in homemade Father's Day cards,

always ending with: 

"I Love You Daddy!" 

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Platte River - Honor, Michigan