For my daughter, Tanya.
Dear Lass, come hither and hear my heart
you of the slender, graceful, womanly form
whose chestnut locks flow in twinkling waves
rivaling the shine of the sun upon spun ice
Yes you, of the tender face and sea eyes
gaze with love upon me and remember it
the moment we understood a harsh pain
that we both had to hold and keep sacred
You, who would nourish the whole world
cannot do more than you do in your life
you cannot be all to everyone and still be
the wondrous woman you grew to be
Queen of the carnival, head mistress of
the band of Gypsies, guiding with a sure
hand the stragglers and the disbelievers
you are patient in your teaching of rules
Allow the followers who walk too slowly
to find you when they need you and do
not worry if they lag behind, for never have
ye lost a follower yet in your sojourns
Do not buy gold charms to appease sorrow
do not buy them to ease some mistaken guilt
buy only one to say I love you and give it to
only the one you have whose name is solitary
Yea, then you will need to find peace and let
your heartache and your pain be known to all
and say to those whose life you share, I need
help and do not hide until peace is found again.
sylvia sammons spivey--April 21, 2006--for Tanya with love from mom


Dear Lass, come hither and hear my heart
you of the slender, graceful, womanly form
whose chestnut locks flow in twinkling waves
rivaling the shine of the sun upon spun ice
Yes you, of the tender face and sea eyes
gaze with love upon me and remember it
the moment we understood a harsh pain
that we both had to hold and keep sacred
You, who would nourish the whole world
cannot do more than you do in your life
you cannot be all to everyone and still be
the wondrous woman you grew to be
Queen of the carnival, head mistress of
the band of Gypsies, guiding with a sure
hand the stragglers and the disbelievers
you are patient in your teaching of rules
Allow the followers who walk too slowly
to find you when they need you and do
not worry if they lag behind, for never have
ye lost a follower yet in your sojourns
Do not buy gold charms to appease sorrow
do not buy them to ease some mistaken guilt
buy only one to say I love you and give it to
only the one you have whose name is solitary
Yea, then you will need to find peace and let
your heartache and your pain be known to all
and say to those whose life you share, I need
help and do not hide until peace is found again.
sylvia sammons spivey--April 21, 2006--for Tanya with love from mom


