EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING

I dreamt about you

I touched your flanneled arm

And you took my hand

I can feel the pressure of your grip

Smell the cotton of your shirt

I can see you smile at me

as I bond with your Mom

And I wake with you in my heart

PROOF OF LOVE

My father was not the most demonstrative man

With a heart full of love and eyes full of tears

he tended to keep his affection and words to himself

When he brought a Claddagh ring*

back from a visit to Ireland

he was so silenced by emotion

that he failed to tell me it was no ordinary ring

When I had it sized for my right hand

my mother asked, "What are you doing?"

"Your father specifically bought it 

to replace your engagement ring."

*a symbol of friendship (cairdeas), love (grá) and loyalty (dílseacht)