Thank you Dad

Poem by Sarah Rizvi
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Not all men can discern their purpose 
Many want a family but forget the first rule: to stay 
Not my dad
Ali Rizvi was always destined for something 
Youngest son of Syed Muhammad Rizvi and Sultana Rizvi 
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem 
Not only did he begin in the name of Allah the most merciful 
He didn’t need to say the prayer out loud,
his life was that of a prophet 
His mother grew sunflowers in Lahore and his grandfather beat him at chess 
Life takes work and even with enough sunshine flowers can still wither 
He is like the trees in his new California home, Sequoias 
Short roots in the soil but branches in the sky
An immigrant with an imagination 
He taught me that even if the most you accomplish in life is patience 
that's enough
And even if my greatest feat
Is being his daughter
Is holding his hand when he passes 
That's more than enough 
Because who doesn't want to go down in history as a superhero’s child?