When Did I Start To Love You?

I remember when you were young

You came to me and asked,

"Daddy, when did you start to love me?"

I looked at you puzzled and answered,

"I have loved you from the day you were born."

You went to bed content with the answer

It left your mind

But it never truly left mine



Several years later

You graduated high school

You came up to me and asked

"Daddy, when did you start to love me?"

I responded as I had every time you asked,

"I have loved you from the day you were born."

Maybe it hadn't left your mind after all

But this time my answer didn't satisfy me

So I pondered it more...



Then not too long after

You got married

I didn't nessessarily like the man you chose

But then again, I didn't like any men taking away my little girl

And again you asked me,

"Daddy, when did you start to love me?"

And once again I responded,

"I have loved you from the day you were born."



Now, many years later

I ponder the question once more

When did I start to love you?

And suddenly I realize

I could never have loved you from the day you were born

I have loved you long before even then

Before I knew you

Before I saw you

Before I felt you

Before you were you

I loved you

And the love I have for you will not last as long

As my life or yours

It will be forever



So just today

When I watched your young daughter walk up to you

And I heard her ask,

"Mommy, how long have you loved me?"

I heard you answer,

"Before anything else, from the day I was first loved,

I loved you also."

I saw you glance at me

And I smiled



Somehow you always remembered to ask me

On these remembered moments in life

To ask me when I started to love you

So I would never forget

When I truly did