I Wish I'D Known You When You Were Three

I Wish I’d Known You When You Were Three With your cowlick choppy hair, eyes big bowls of blue, your sticky hands, I would have brought bubbles to blow & make you laugh, chasing them & me. I would have counted each freckle, telling you they were really magic stars to wish upon. I would have looked for your bike when it turned up lost & given you mine, taking off my birthday streamers sparkly plum. I wish I’d known you when you were six & skinned your knee & tried so hard not to cry. I would have held your hand so tight, ‘til you were done & put on a Piglet band-aid. You my Pooh. I wish I’d known you when you were twelve & didn’t fit in. I would have made a secret club, just you & me, & baked you crown-shaped cookies with your initials in chocolate chips. I wish I’d known when you cried at night, not wanting anyone to know. I would have promised you it would be okay, cause I was there, holding your sticky sweaty hand, blowing bubbles & wishing on magic stars for you. Published: Orange Room Review