What part of daddy is his girl,
Of separate worlds, what sharing?
What will his child reject or fear,
What come from father’s caring ?
What part of mother is her child,
What gleaned from years of giving?
` What will her girl keep safe and sure,
What learn from life and living?
What part of father is a son,
What separate worlds yet sharing?
What lessons does he long recall,
What learns the son from daring?
What part of mother is a son,
What gleans he from her giving?
What keeps the son both safe and pure,
What learns from life and living?
first published in St. Anthony’s Messenger, also, in Small Brushes
©1997 Bonnie Manion