Can I give you....

Can I give you all of life’s lessons in a few stumbling words?

I suppose paper can never replace presence,

but life's course is shrouded in the future and

no one knows what the sun will rise on tomorrow.

Some fine day, you will be a woman

and you must walk in this world full of hate and suffering.

I can only tell you that there is always agony but there is always joy

Try to be sincere; games are the evil tools that women use

to break hearts, to break bonds, to break lives.

Never be afraid to examine, to look beyond the ordinary,

to plow beneath the surface of all things,

as their meaning lies hidden deep within.

Know thyself, child, and be proud to let that sparkling soul

rule your heart and mind and dictate her principles

on the fibers of your world

Let her shine through the dust of everyday

because she is the light within you,

the light that has brightened my life and

illuminated all the corners of my mind

since the day you were born.

Stand up, be the voice of those who are weak,

your voice will be strong and always be heard.

Never fear to lay it all down for what you feel,

for all that you feel is right and just.

I see strength in your eyes,

courage written in your heart

and I know you'll be a hero one day,

when you begin to understand

that you are made of steel and iron,

the very stuff that enables skycrapers

to stretch ever upwards

and touch the clouds and the sky.

Don't shy away from love,

though it's path may be strewn with wreckage

and the way may be less than clear.

Love is a lesson in itself,

teaching to rise and fall with

the strident steps of faith and trust.

Love can lift you above yourself

and leave you crashing to the earth,

but it is never in vain.

Keep me in your ear,

I'll always call it like it is.

And don't forget my faults,

so that you remember not to make them,

don't forget my mistakes,

so that you'll know not to repeat them.

I will always be there,

whether or not I am actually here.

I will always be there to hold your hand.