i hope

she's beautiful
and when she's 13
she comes out to the family
at thanksgiving
and i'll be there
and i'll give her a hug
and i'll tell her i love her
and i'll laugh at the shocked look
on everyone's faces
and you'll finally have to admit
i'm no different from you
and you'll finally have to admit
you're wrong
and eventually
you'll have to accept it
and
maybe
someday
she'll have a son
and
someday
he'll grow up
and
he'll
look just like
you

and maybe
just maybe
i'll start to talk to you again
at her son's graduation
i'll tell him congrats
and then i'll walk over to you
by the punch bowl
and i'll say
i'm sorry
that i let our entire lives slip by
without ever
letting you into mine