Something
poetic is happening in Virginia! Maybe it’s the history, maybe it’s the
Chesapeake, Virginia has contributed great poems to vox poetica. You’ve
read the work of Christina Marie Speed, Rae Spencer, and Jean M. Hendrickson.
Now read a lovely memory poem by Bob Christin. He is a retired English
professor (Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pace University, New York) who has
taught creative writing at Adult Learning Center in Virginia Beach, VA
for ten years. He meets twice a month with fellow writers to work on
writing poems. He writes poetry, short stories, and essays. These days
he devotes time to writing a book-length literary memoir. Bob is
widowed and lives in Virginia Beach, VA. Read this touching poem, love
it, identify with it, and look for more of his work at his blog, christinspeaks.blogspot.com. And keep looking for more beautiful work by Virginia writers here at vox poetica.

For My Daughter
By Bob Christin

One day when you were three
I held you on my lap,
Combed back your jet-black hair
Like your mother’s, yours cut
In bangs. Wondered what you
Would be like when you were
My age. I knew you would be
beautiful. You already were.
Would you be cheerful,
Self-possessed, well wed
To a man of character?
Would you love as passionately
As I loved your mother, then
and now? Would you read,
I wanted to know, because I did?
Would I enjoy talking to you,
Confiding, sharing dreams,
Even dreams that came true
Like your answers to all
Of my wondering.