Lessons

I once had a love
In an ill-spent youth
And a child born
In innocent faith

Though fear and fate
Chased love away
My heart stayed true
For a daughter's father

And life, as it will
Brought changes and years
Another daughter born
To another absent father

By chance and circumstance
And trials so many
A first love was refound
And a family formed

Yet in years ahead
Tough happy were we
My soulmate was lost again
To his own weakness

A drink too many
And hearts were fractured
Til we were again three
Daughters to a mother alone

And yet a mother's heart
Needs only the child's love
To find such strength
As to keep her faith

And maybe to teach her children
A truth she has realized
There are lessons we learn
And lessons we live.