​Chris Bodor                 St. Augustine              (LD)
Fierce, a Poem for My Future Granddaughter

Your mother made me a father
during a time when I was full of youth
during a time when I knew nothing
about marriage,
about making money,
about happiness.

You will make me a grandfather
and I will make mistakes
as a grandfather,
as I have as a father
as I have as a husband,
a brother, and a son.

The only gift I have to give you
for Christmas,
for the new year,
for your birthday,
is my love
and a Winston Churchill quote,
discovered on my writing desk,
in a 2023 monthly planner:

“You will make all kinds of mistakes,
but as long as you are generous and true,
and fierce, you cannot hurt the world
or even seriously distress her.”

When you are born, future granddaughter,
I hope that you will take my hand,
and lead me through your world,
and teach me how to be fierce.