My daughter thinks hawks are loved ones
come back to protect her and who knows,
maybe someday I’ll be soaring high above
the tall trees, looking down, but today we’re
walking together in the park and as we pass
the glistening magnolia and holly trees, I
do not say that’s what I wanted to plant
for the twins until the idea was vetoed
as too messy.  And I feel good about
holding back, not treading on hurtful ground,
practicing for next time, and for the time
after that, until I grow closer to the goodness
I can only imagine.