Seventeen

by Marc Mangel

 

For Jennifer

 

New sun rising in the morning sky

New life begins with a tiny cry

 

The air is crisp and the sky is blue

The young one has a lovely hue

 

Walking in the morning sun

It’s hard to believe what’s been done

 

A baby girl to call our own

Has joined and blessed our home

 

But time passes quickly, it’s so hard to tell

And young ones grow and learn so well

 

And now you sit, blond hair, blue eyes

A beautiful young woman, not to my surprise

 

Seventeen years, so many suns rising

Seventeen years, gone like birds flying

 

Today you’re older now, bolder in your years

Today you’re older now, but why does it bring tears?

 

(January 1992)