Little Lambs
* For my grandson Makkie - my newest fishing buddy *
~
they …
are amazing creatures
with tiny little arms that stretch
inches, feet … miles -
they find you
no matter where you are or
what you’re doing
and their plump-fingered hands
reach right into you
clutch your heart
squeeze it
and say “you’re mine … for all time!”
and they never let go
not EVER …
they have a twinkle in their eye
that never relents -
not even in sadness or tears
and if you can manage to
coax a smile
it reminds you of just
where the sun gets its shine
and the moon, it’s glow …
their giggles are like
butterflies dancing across a
midday meadow
with a bounce and bliss that
makes you feel eternal
and a music as
gentle and sweet as any …
and their spirits -
indomitable delight and charm
a wisdom, untainted that
is lost over time
(convoluted by concern and struggle)
but with an insight that
is awarded to only the pure-of-heart …
everything they do -
everything they see and find -
is new and wondrous
and each lesson, learned slowly
constructs their personality
like soft clay being
shaped by the hand of experience
and hardened by maturity
there is no greater treasure in this world
than the gift of life
and nothing that carries it
as tenderly as a child -
joyful, exuberant, capricious
nothing is or could ever be
more precious a miracle
than …
they.
Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, September 14, 2023
( this is a form I created called “Bookend Free Verse” )
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