Where Has My Little Girl Gone? Poem by Rachel Harris

Her mother's belly grew by the day
To my elation
My heart felt joy to great to say
And a wonderful sensation

When the came the time for the birth
I anxiously awaited
My wife's pain brought a joy to earth
A God-send created

My little girl, she was my light
My joy, my love, my life
Her deep brown eyes and hair golden bright
Fair as spring, only like to my wife

Too quickly grew my little girl,
From gurgling babe to laughing child
I watched her life's wings unfurl
I watched her spirit, free and wild

Her mother reared her, as did I
Her well-trained character pleased all
We taught her in the ways of God on high
And her mind grew strong and tall

Soon the laughing child slowly changed
Now a young woman, ready for the unexplored
Her thoughts grew deep and widely ranged
Her faith grew daily in the Lord

I sometimes missed the younger one
Her rosy cheeks and ready will
Big hugs and a radiant smile like the sun
Yet I loved older one still

Though sometimes we seemed to draw away
Her new-found will colliding with mine
It never lasted more than a day
Without her presence my heart would pine

I pondered as she changed, in body and in mind
She used to tell me, 'Daddy, I want to marry you.'
I hoped and prayed for the one she would find
Wondering if what she had said long ago was still true

I know that she loves me so
But I can't bear to think of when we must part
Of when I must let her go
When I must share with another her heart

Where has my little girl gone?
Why did she have to grow?
Her heart to another has been drawn
Out of love I have let her go