Tell Me Baby

(Remembering my daughter Sanabel)

This is how we do it, Dad:

We ride the storm. We stand the pain.

We wring the rocks for beads of rain.

We pray. We fight. We cry. We laugh.

Just another bump in the road.

Such is our sudden dip in loss.

Take my hand. Strong we stand.

We cry for peace. We pray. We fight;

You, for a stolen liberty,

And I, for a smile that lasts.

A smile for you, Dad, to remember

How wide it hugged my freckled face,

The sucker it was for cute babies,

How easy it helped us both… breathe.

That’ll tickle your tumbled heart,

Lift it up and make you laugh…

Laugh, Dad

This’s how we do it, wise man.

We live our lives. And when we die

We would’ve given it our best

And as it’s always true for life,

In death, too, there’s victory.

Baby, You prayed… You fought…

You cried… You laughed…

* On may 14, 2013 Sanabel passed to the care

of her Loving Lord.

Shukri 5/14/22