Reward for Courage

She lay there,at the foot of the bed,
my angel,so calmly she slept,
today would've been her wedding day.
Keeping the invites by her feet,
my daughter,fell asleep as she wept.

They'd known each other as neighbors,
I watched them growing-caring,
behind a painted unapproving face,
pleased I was at their pairing.

Through many years,Through many tears,
they stuck together,
when faced with a struggle,
a career or relationship juggle,
they carried on,making luck together.

And when it was time,
I read her mind,
cause here was a lad,
who made every father glad
when leaving his daughter behind.

But as time neared,
it turned the way I feared..
List of demands,
the shameless commands,
the threat, to comply or lose,
her companion that I helped choose.

I was agreeable to every demand,
yet couldnt face the thought,
for this wasnt a triumph of tradition,
but a transaction,
where a marriage was bought.

The hurtful fact,was through the act,
the one ally I hoped,
my future son-in-law,
was eager to dip his paw,
and eyes glistening with riches,he hoped
to enjoy what his parents had roped.

As night falls,I stand by your bed,
Realizing my courage 
came from your initiation,
Taking my hand and your mother's,
being the inner strength for one another,
walked out of the negotiations.

Many suitors will come to query,
once aware,will walk off weary,
for this injustice causes,
a stigma against proposal,
for the unfortunate who considered refusal.

Every father has only two fears,
two eventualities causing tears,
that his child marries someone wrong,
or that the right man comes along,
because either way,
I will lose you that day...