It doesn’t seem so long ago that her mother placed her in my arms, Back then, I held her close to me, to keep her safe from harm. We chose a name to give her and looked forward to the day, When she would speak her first words; maybe “Daddy” is what she’d say. It was just a minor disappointment that caused my brow to furrow, When she made the sound of “ma ma,” even though she’s Daddy’s little girl. Now I look and see she’s growing up; the years fly by like days, I’d love so much to keep her young and watch the way she plays. She dresses up and acts the part of a bride on her wedding day, And my eyes grow moist when I realize that someday she’ll go away. It doesn’t seem too far off when another will take her from my arm, Giving her a different name, and so I ask, “Please keep her safe from harm.” Someday she’ll be a woman, with her own future to unfurl, But in my heart, I’ll hold her close; forever Daddy’s little girl.

by Greg Olsen