With awe and wonder
I watch them grow
babies
such a short time ago
stumbling… falling… getting up again
bumps and bruises and skinned up knees
young and innocent and happy
and they grew
dirty sweaty children
they became
as children often do
running and giggling
stumbling… falling… getting up again
broken bones and stitches
tears clean off the dirt
and they grew
the teenagers they became
little rebellion
but anger and frustration
theirs
mine
at the injustice of it all
stumbling… falling… getting up again
the tears the fears and the pain
theirs… mine…
the unforgetable years
carved forever in my heart
and they grew
I watch them now
covertly from a distance
wanting to protect them
catch them when they fall
and yet in the fall is the learning
stumbling… falling… getting up again…
and I can’t
but with pride
and with wonder
I watch
the beauty of the unfolding adults
they are becoming
… and they grow…