Notes About The Poem
* This is me at age three, where we lived year-round on Sebago Lake in Raymond, ME. *
To Myself As a Child
There, so long ago ...
Precious little one, hair of platinum!
If I could but speak to you from the "now",
From the heart of the man you will come to be ...
Oh, you have a pure spirit there, little one,
Full of love and energy and uncommon tenderness,
(For such a wee, wobbly, skinny little lad) ...
Fascination, rife, for every particularly wonderful thing,
Like stars, the sea, and clean, white seersucker shirts, (three times-a-day).
A loving mother and older siblings to nurture you,
And a father who sacrificed all to work long hours and provide,
His sweat and varicose legs and lack of engagement
The payment for opportunities and education that so many never realize.
Yes, little one, clutch steadfast the child's heart that thrums within,
Above all else, save love, it will guide you back ...
You are a free spirit, and you will chart paths through life's thickest brush,
You will rebel away from the median, and choose poorly in emotion,
You will experience and learn and feel and gain SO much,
But you will fall even further, and lose almost all, I'm afraid ...
I can not keep you from the seams of Hell, little one, that is your destiny,
But the glimmer of love and your child's heart will wind you home,
The same heart that will crush with the pains of loss and lessons ...
But trust it always, little one ... trust it ALWAYS,
And here you will be, looking back with wonder and gratitude ...
On a full, rich, extraordinary life.
** FOURTH PLACE in the "What Child Is This" Poetry Contest, Craig Cornish, Sponsor. **
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