A Daughter's Lesson

Dark, silent bedroom, Your childhood’s past: Mementos and books Seem all that now last. Your bed rests here empty, The desk there is silent— They taunt me to ponder Where happy years went; Look … tarnished gold trophies And clothes out of date, Nagging reminders Of life growing late. Oh, frail infant once, You girl I taught read, Why’d I fail seeing Where growing would lead? Sure, to visit you’ll travel, Brief sojourns—no more— Please, comprehend some day Why tears stream and pour.