Oh my little longed-for one--
If only I were a wizard--
I would weave you a cape of red feathers
to protect you from any grief or harm.
If I were a medicine man--
I would bead moccasins for your feet
to guide you to that place your dreams call from
but would always know the way back home.
If I were a magician--
I would cup my clever hands around your tiny ones
to teach them to be quick to help
and the wonder-work of secret kindnesses.
If I were a shaman--
I would draw the line of true sight beneath your eyes
with my charcoaled thumb,
that you would see the world clearly--
both the world seen,
and the invisible one beneath it.
If I were a fairy godmother--
I would sprinkle angel dust upon your head
so that you would always remember your true identity--
that you are a child of God.
If I were a genie--
I would sing a secret spell into your ear
that you could sense the magic whirling all around you.
If I were a superhero--
I would give you superpowers
that you could always be somebody's hero.
If I were a priestess--
I would kiss your little chest
and whisper a blessing on your beating heart
that it would be forever happy and honorable
and brave.
But alas,
I am just an ordinary old woman
And all I can do is promise you that
anything that amazes you
will amaze me,
anything that hurts you
will hurt me,
anything that delights you
will delight me.
That everything that happens to you
will be important to me.
And that my love will be right there beside you
wherever you go
forever and ever
whether you can see my eyes watching over you
or not.
Lucky baby Andrew to have such a wise, wonderful grandmother.
ReplyDeleteI second that Kathryn!
ReplyDeleteOk, now you've done it. You've outdone yourself. Made me yearn for those days ... but maybe the ones in the future instead of those past. Beautiful.
ReplyDelete