I held her face in my hands
looking into her eyes
locking eyes
and then kissed her sweetly on the lips
and whispered in her ear
"I love you"
and I meant it
I could feel it in my chest, my shoulders
my real love moving up my forearms
and into my hands holding her face

the tall daughter left this morning
with two friends
five suitcases
and a dog
landing safely at JFK this afternoon

she cried, but we didn't
she doesn't know what's in store for her
in brooklyn, in life
but we know enough
we watched her leave
with tight breath and deep hope
moving to her own place
to live her own life

time did seem to slow almost to a stop
when I held her face
and felt her soft lips
like a tiny little girl
my beloved tall daughter

her eyes were searching
big tears dropping heavy
did she want us to stop her?
to cry and not let go?
we know her
and we know this is right
watching her leave
with tight breath and deep hope.