When the Sky was Only at the Top

Boxes everywhere

Filled with sleeping toys

Colorful ribbons from all the contests you were in

When you were little.

I remember this blue shirt

With the Orange fish on it

Your favorite shirt.

I step over old clothes

Other toys

Little shoes

Worn from so many adventures.

I slip

Under my stuffed elbows

I see an old picture.

The crayon color has faded

But the picture remains clear

You and your family

Your dog has 2 legs

Your mom has 6 fingers on 1 hand

Your dad wears a rainbow suit.

You

With your bright yellow hair

And big smile

Stand in between your smiling parents

Holding their hands.

Scribbled light blue crayon at the very top.

The backwards 6 in the corner

Shows me just how old you were

When your whole world was perfect.

Your mom packed lots of photo albums

In these boxes

But smiles for the camera can be faked.

This little crayon portrait though,

This shows your real world

As you saw it.

But you grew out of your little shoes

Your crayon portraits

Replaced by graphite sketches.

Only you don't draw your family anymore.

Your dog grew old.

You're still in between your parents

But they can't be on the same page anymore.

That's no longer your real world.

Last night

You dug through this closet

And found me

With all the other Teddy's of your childhood.

Old and patched

I tried to comfort you

Like I used to.

But I could not make this better.

It was not a scraped knee

Or a timeout you were sure you didn't deserve.

So I just sat with you.

My you've grown up so fast.

But you still look the same when you cry.

So I let you hold me.

I felt your salty tears

Land on my furry arms and tummy,

Wishing they would stop.

You quietly told me all your problems.

You tried to drown out

The argument that continues

Night after night.

Your first love

Who broke your heart.

People insisting you choose your future

But you don't have a clue.

The argument stopped.

So did you.

But when it began again.

You told me about the true reason

For your river of tears.

I was soaked

But I didn't mind.

Your parents are getting a divorce.

After years of fighting

Your reality,

Cracked from every angry scream,

Will finally shatter.

Now here I am

In a closet full of memories.

You're at school

Probably smiling and talking

Like nothing is wrong.

You're good at that.

But I know

The troubles you face

The fears you have had since you were small

The challenge you now have ahead of you.

Oh how I miss the days

Of little blue t-shirts,

Smiling orange fish,

Little shoes

And amazing adventures.

Of a perfect life

Drawn with every crayon in the box.

Before reality stepped in

And told you life isn't perfect.

Before growing up ruined

The blue scribbles above a happy family

With 6 fingers and rainbow suits.

Back when the sky was only at the top.