a work in progress

candy apple marking the stain of youth
sticky on my hands but still
too lazy to wash it off
the memories I long for
these things, we hold on to

the time I won the spelling bee
or singing cheesy songs
with the family packed in the car
on that long cross country trip
I can still remember

and I wonder what memories
my daughter will hold on to
as she and I; the makeshift family
try to build the solid foundation
she will walk on in adulthood

will she remember my impatience
or all my hugs and kisses
will she cling to missing her dad
or instead, the way I tried so hard
to be everything for her

reflecting on all of this
I long for living the days
when a candy apple
sticky on my hands
was the cure for a difficult day