Pawpaw's Prayer

When he suffers, I suffer When he sheds a tear, my heart breaks His struggles become my struggles I can taste his desire for independence Trapped in a body that no longer Adheres to his commands Treated as an infant By those who do not understand He begs for people to listen He pleads for a moment alone He fights for a chance to try by myself And, at night, he prays... And I cry... If only I could take your place If only I could make you whole if only I could take you back to yesterday But I am allowed only to stand by your bedside And, at night, I pray with you.