This is a little poem I wrote as a birthday present for my firstborn daughter a few years ago.
What prompted me to write it was the possibility that in my daily life I don't properly express my
love to those that I love most. And sometimes we leave things that we want to say until it's too late.
It's a true recollection of the first time I met my newborn baby daughter.
Sharon cried when I gave it to her that morning of her 35th birthday.
A letter to Sharon
(The first time I saw your face.)
I remember when and where we first met.
Thirty five years ago today.
A day in December 1969, as the angelus bell sounded.
We were on a corridor in a maternity hospital
in a foreign country far away from Ireland.
“This is your daughter.” the nun said.
“Can I hold her?”
“Ok but just for a moment, it’s not really allowed you know”.
You, a new born babe, two hours old, contented and sleeping, possibly.
Me, 22 years old, a man/boy, nervous, wanting to kiss you,
but watched by a friendly, yet stern nun.
Your mam on the other side of the door, not allowed to be present at our
first meeting.
This probably sounds like a sad occasion but it wasn’t, I was happy,
happy at seeing you for the first time, thinking about our future.
My life changed at that moment,
I didn’t realize it but we had just become a family.
Look at us now, fourteen of us, a clan.
But you were the first.
I love you Sharon.
Dad
Happy Birthday.
X X X X
OG
