Mae's Wedding

Scott Whitby, 2024

I love

when you were a little girl,

your eyes would shine,

you'd look at me and

you could read my mind.

you'd hold my hand and study,

then flip it to the other side,

like there was something new

your little hands could find.

I remember

when you were big an' hard to figure

you'd stand your ground.

it didn't matter right or wrong,

you're never scared when I got loud.

then we'd get quiet, ride our horses

pretending Indians hide and whisper

in the shade behind the trees

not knowing you were one of them

I dreamed about

when we'd dance together

to that song just for you

on your wedding day.

I'd die to do it again.

and I bet you don't know

that what I want you to see,

is how much I love that

...your daddy is me.