My daughter’s nursery
was in an apartment.
The room no larger than a closet.
One bedroom with an office.

“Daughters are flowers forever in bloom”
was the quote I framed above her crib.
She was the marvel
We stared at from above.

Each smile and sound
brought sunshine to our world.
She helped us forget
the mostly empty refrigerator
and late bills we tried to ignore.
I slid them secretly into kitchen drawers.

She is 16 now
and questions everything about herself.
She wasn’t there to see
the marvel in the crib
bringing light into our world.
But I still see the flower
blossoming there
in the office nursery.