Fourteen Years

Fourteen Years.

Year one.

"Hush, little baby, I'll be right here.

I'll be beside you to wipe away your tears.

Quiet, my little one, my precious baby girl.

I'm here to love you, to make you my whole world."

Year two.

"You, my little angel, have spoken your first word.

You called out for your mommy, so quiet I barely heard.

You're speaking your first words, and walked your first steps, too.

So little time before you grow up, so many things to do!"

Year three.

"Now that you can walk and talk, you never take a break.

You just talk and talk and talk every moment you're awake.

You rip around the apartment in your tiny toddler feet,

Up and down the hallways, as if with limitless energy.

Year four.

"It is two-thirty in the morning...did your dreams scare you awake?

They can't get you now, with me here you're safe.

I'll chase the monsters out from underneath your bed.

I will keep you guarded, so there's nothing more to dread."

Year five.

"My young child, the bus is here, so go and climb aboard.

It's your first day of kindergarten, so feel free to go explore.

Yes, it hurts me a little bit, to see you grow so fast.

Soon, you'll be in cap and gown, with all the schooldays past."

Year six.

"Here's another first for you...it's time to cut your hair.

Eighteen inches of straight black locks grown with gentle care.

A thick pony tail of Tia's mane, sent off to locks of love.

You were too fussy and your hair too long to even try to take care of."

Year seven.

"Barbies, singing, and doing cartwheels on the lawn.

The refrigerator door is full of all the pictures you have drawn.

You are a playful child, nothing can bring you down.

You always wear a smile, you've never known a frown."

Year eight.

"You and your little sister just won't quit your fighting.

Insults flying, scowls flashing quite faster than any lighting.

I've had enough of it! Quiet, both of you!

You sit in one corner, the other over there...what else can I do?

Year nine.

"I still love you, but why have your grades fallen so?

Your math grade, your science grade...they're both so very low!

I know you can do better than this...I know that you are smart.

Please, just try harder, so your grades quit falling apart!

Year ten.

"I'm sorry I have been working so often recently...

I promise we will have some time soon with just you and me.

Overtime on weekday nights, plus hours at week's end

Makes it very hard to be home more than every now and then.

Year eleven.

"You haven't seen very much of me...you must miss your mom.

Please, just play with your sisters, you'll forget I'm always gone.

Your dad will keep an eye on you, he'll watch you for me.

One of these nights, I'll try to be home before you go to sleep."

Year twelve.

"You have grown and graduated to the middle school!

You're all the way in seventh grade...I'm so proud of you!

You're still so young, but to me you've gotten so old

Before my eyes, you have become so open and so bold!"

Year thirteen.

"I have a business trip this week...and another after that...

I can't make it to your school concert, it really is too bad!

I have a business trip next week, so we can't have our 'girl's day'.

I'm sorry, I was looking forward to it, but I have to go away..."

Year fourteen.

"It's your fourteenth birthday, my dear sweet little girl.

I'm sorry I couldn't be there, but we no longer share a world.

I see you weeping at my grave, tears falling in fresh dirt.

You look so gravely wounded, so mentally, emotionally hurt.

The years we had were happy ones...your sisters, father, and I.

I'm sorry there couldn't be more time...I'm sorry I had to die.

I want you to feel healed again, I want you to feel okay.

Always know that I am here, and you'll be with me again someday.

You need to be the strong girl that I know you are.

Just remember, if there's trouble, I'll never be too far.

Always with you.