the daughter

your daughter,
the one you never had
is still with you.
somewhere in your heart
she exists.
a strange notion
for a man to have,
now unmarried,
your son grown
and well on his way
to his own life,
but you can feel the
phantom kiss
upon your cheek
from her lips,
you can hear
the talks you would
have had, the joy
of seeing her become
a woman, teaching
you things in your old
age that men
never understand.