A Better Gift

I sat covered in sweat
on a creaking old church bench,
staring at the toes
of my scuffed Corofram shoes.

My brother Al
and his second wife
had already said
"I do," and really seemed
to mean it.
Dear Lord,
I hoped they did.

I sat feeling happy,
contemplating,
upon an old church bench,
staring at the toes
of my scuffed Corofram shoes.

My family has more divorces
than children,
and the family tree
has more branches
and more tears
than the weeping willow
on the old farm
I called home
before I joined the Air Force.

I sat contemplating loneliness,
on a country church bench,
staring at the toes
of my scuffed Corofram shoes.

I had stood at the altar,
from "dearly beloved,"
to "I now pronounce you"
looking at my family
and all the guests
that I didn't know,
thanking God
for bringing us
together and making
this a great day
for commitment.

I sat face covered in tears.
alone on an old church bench,
staring at the toes
of my scuffed Corofram shoes.

My daughter
came skipping down the aisle.
"Daddy can we ride
with Uncle Dave
and Aunt Suzy
to the reception.
They said they have room
and don't mind being a taxi."

I sat wiping tears.
The old church bench
creaked as Emily
scooted next to me.
I wondered where she
put her scuffed black shoes.

"Daddy are you okay?"
She snuggled me
and rubbed tears off my cheek.
"Daddy what's wrong?"
"Nothing Punkin, just thinking
how I wish
I had a wife
like your uncles do."
With four year old wisdom,
she said,
"at least you have me,
they don't even have kids!"

I sat heart filled with joy,
on a creaking old church bench,
wondering what I did to deserve
such a great kid.
I was pleased
from the top of my head
to the toes
of my scuffed Corofram shoes.