Of mountains, pines, pecans, and farms--
Knelt down and caught me in his arms!
At very least I didn’t fall!)
All through my journey in the womb--
My growth from egg to preemie bloom--
This Arkansawyer with a pen
Took care of Ute—Mother Hen.
And thus, when I was born to light,
Twas with rejoicing, not with spite!
From that day on—Berlin to Spiez,
From El Dorado to the beach,
From Muerren to the walls of Trier
And many a Dalmatian pier,
From Alkmaar to Lake Hamilton
From Kaategat to Devil’s Den
We’ve been around—by train, by jet—
Perhaps the best is coming yet!
The questions asked in bed at night
“The capital Kabul is right!”
The little chats, the cheezy jokes
“Capture the ring” and fire stokes
Not to mention all those genes
The ones that helped me like book-learnin’
Not only that—such help from you!
You’ve fixed my teeth, you’ve saved me too
From having both my fingers lost
In Colin’s workbench—what a cost!
You’ve paid for school and so much more
All that is ‘tween our roof and floor!
Than once, I know now even more
That love is at the very core:
If someone has a cozy nest,
A home to learn to do her best,
And be oneself and never lie,
Where Ma and Pa are always there
And one feels safely in their care
Then that’s how every child should feel
That’s what you gave us—that is real.
My greatest dream is that Kozhiin
Will live such a childhood as I’ve seen.
…And, by the way, I do not jest:
Your ice plant stories are the best!
Strawberry Juuuuuuuuuuuice!