Lullabye

 I promised I would never leave you

and you should always know:

Wherever you may go, no matter where you are

I never will be far away

Something has been missing these past few days.

I knew it would be hard, but I didn't think the space would tug at my heart so much.

There isn't a pair of green eyes that light up when they see me in the morning anymore.

There aren't two little feet running to me.

I don't have arms clinging around my waist.

I can't hear his infectious squeaky laugh.

I don't have someone insisting on keeping me company while I hurry eating my breakfast before campus.

My light and my first love is in preschool now.

As I am writing this, tears are forming in my eyes.

I'm trying so hard to not let them run down my cheeks.

It's not like I'll never see him ever again, but not having him around everyday is different.

I don't want to see him go, but it would be selfish of me to never let him grow up.

I don't want him to get burned in this cold world.

I want his innocence to stay.

His laughter and his creativity to never stop oozing out.

I want his eyes to keep their glow and his mind to never stop dreaming.

Most of all, I hope in that little four year old mind of his...

I hope he knows how much he means to me.

He's only a child and could never even fathom how much I love him.

I hope one day, when I am long gone from his life, I hope something triggers a memory.

I hope it all comes crashing in like an unexpected storm.

All our laughter.

All our adventures.

He took my hand the other night and promised he'd never forget me.

Perhaps he will keep his word.

My heart stopped for a moment recently.

His baby sister woke up and peered out of her crib.

She pressed her face against the screen.

He used to do the exact same thing!

My heart stopped because I saw him.

I see him in her so much, it's a little frightening.

It's time for a new chapter.

Once we finish a book, we can always begin a new one.  

It might have something wonderful that the last book didn't have.

Someday we'll all be gone

but lullabies go on and on

They never die

That's how you and I will be

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing story. Children give us reason and purpose. When I was young. I wanted wealth and I learn true wealth is laughter of children and family near. I enjoyed the story and the photos. Thank you Kathryn for sharing the story.
Coyote

[dan]

Adorable! I remember my first wife and I taking our boy to his first day of preschool. I was so proud of him as he ran in and immediately started interacting with the other kids. My wife was actually sobbing. Later on that night when my wife and son were in bed I was overcome with emotion and cried a bit also. You mention hoping when your son is out on his own that something will trigger memories? Don't worry, those memories will stay with you always, trigger or no trigger. Great pics too! Thanks for sharing with us! take care...dan

[Kathryn Smith]

Thanks Dan! He actually isn't my son1 He's a boy I helped watch and take care of! ahha I don't have any kids yet! :) Thanks for the great review!

[Hakim]

That's beautiful. You seem to have two great children you love very much. i could tell after two sentences that this story/poem was going to be moving.
And im sure youve got nothing to worry about, of course they'll remember you, but you have a long time left in this world still and hopefully you keep writing. Very pleasant read :)

[Hakim]

or perhaps you could even be siblings?

[Kathryn Smith]

Thanks for the lovely review! My mother runs a daycare and I took care of the little boy since he was 2 months old. Its rough when they leave, but it's all apart of life. x