"How Fast They Grow"
My baby daughter I hold you close,
Your cheeks hold the tint of a rose,
How blue are your eyes, my dear, I love you
From your golden hair down to your toes.
My baby son I hold you close
And smooth back your hair, dark as coal
I count tiny fingers, I count tiny toes
And joy fills my heart and my soul.
And somewhere between a smile and a tear,
Before I have time to turn 'round,
My babies have grown,with a life of their own,
And the silence is deep and profound.
Oh, to turn back the years and have them once more
With their tiny hands tucked into mine,
To have "monsters" to shoo, bruises to kiss
Report cards, test papers to sign.
It's so hard to let go, it's so hard to admit
That your little ones need you much less,
So savor their childhood, make sure each day's filled
With loving and sweet tenderness.
Eileen Power
copyright 1997