Daughters Departure
An
indented circle,
the mark on your cheek of her earring,
tells the force of your parting,
tearful clasp a quarter-hour after shes gone.
Unforeseen, the osprey
youngs first flight looks
a slight leap into the wind
off the rough circle her wings
beating has fanned for days.
Before northern weathers
have wrecked that nest
shell fish African waters,
with luck. Now limbs twist to control
her climb from sticks to eaglehood.