One day we will tell her that she was named

after the magnolia tree, we could see

from the window

in our first apartment

Tell her that even though

our first home wasn’t picturesque

we made beautiful memories with what we had

because what we had was each other

 

One day we will tell him that he was named after his father

and grandfather

and great grandfather

Tell him that he comes from a long line of strong

and compassionate men

who knew that to carry this name

was to honor the men who came

before him

 

Neither of us came from perfect families

and we don’t expect to create one

But there is something to be said

about a family founded on

tear-soaked carpet

that always dries in the sunshine