Dear Daughters

Dear daughters Gwen, you're my oldest and you're quite a lady You're my only blue eyed girl and you turn sixteen in April And you sure made a change in my world I'm sorry I missed the big evening, your first date and I wasn't around Save all the secret things you did and tell me when I get to town And on your graduation I wanted pictures to look back on But then I wasn't there to take them, as usual I was gone You've had to grow up much too quick and you've done it on your own You did it without mama 'cause mama wasn't home And Jackie, you're quite a lady too You're just one year younger than Gwen And there's so much that I'm missing like being mommy now and then I remember the day you cooked your first meal, you were nine You cooked biscuits and ham And you called it to me how good it was 'cause I was out of town And at the party for fathers and daughters, well, I know you felt out of place And even the pretty dress I bought couldn't fill that empty space And the time when you got sick and the doctors turned you down They said they couldn't treat you with your mama out of town And Tina, you're such a pretty girl with big almond eyes, brown And they voted you a home coming queen when I was out of town I know you were a beauty 'cause your sisters dressed you right And you said it didn't matter that I was out of town that night And the day that you joined the cheer leading team Boy, nothing could hold you down, you yelled, "Hip hip hurray" Over the phone 'cause as usual I was out of town And Tamala Georgette Jones, you simply take my breath away Born just six short years ago and named for your daddy and me Going to sleep on [Incomprehensible] arm and listening to her hymn Drifting off to fairy land while sucking on your thumb While, just yesterday you pulled a tooth, you sure are brave and strong I wish I could have been there but as usual I was gone