One, Two, Three

As the white clouds pushed away,

The blue skies covered the beach.

The low tide water gently crashed on the sand,

and I silently sat in my Graco seat.

Looking off into the ocean so calm and so serene

I could feel my dad’s warming presence around me.

He’s known to be intimidating,

he’s known to be a punk rocker.

Well, he is- can’t you tell by his blondish green hair?

But he’s more than that.

He wears a warm welcoming smile.

He treats his little girl like a queen.

He is the one who taught his little girl how to surf.

He is the one I always knew would never let me fall.

As the crowd walked up the pier-

As the crowd scatters among the beach-

nothing breaks the sight we were so captivated to see.

My white little clip sits softly in my hair;

I was so young, so naive, and so pure.

But I had no fear for I knew my dad would be there.

He’d shield me from the pain;

He’d shield me from harm;

He’d shield me like his sunglasses keeping the sun out of his eye’s way.

Each touching the railing,

He counted them: one, two, three;

I giggled with excitement.

Time strolled by and I reached age three.

Princess helmet on I was ready to ride a bike.

Dad told me he’d let go in one, two, three.

Wind through my hair,

I was flying.

Now in high school

So old but still daddy’s little girl,

I stood in my silky blue dress.

I was ready for homecoming.

Tears trickled down my dad’s cheek;

he counted off for the camera one, two, three.