Spiritual

In the fragile hands of my little girl 
who knows not the agony of my years 
nor realizes the joy she provides 
the balance her innocence brings 
she holds a picture 
framed in red oak 
figures in black and white 
posing beneath a gray tree 
which no longer provides shade 
on a hill no longer there 
she talks to them in almost silent whispers 
those who were gone before knowing her first breath 
those I miss so desperately 
she sets the picture back in it's place 
and for a moment looks achingly sad 
'tell me about them Daddy' 
she says

Heritage