With a Backward Glance

     Grown children don't have the same memories of their childhood as we parents do because we were adults when they happened and they were children. Those memories of sweet, snuggly toddlers are God's way to keep us from abandoning them as teenagers. They also help keep our adult children humble by means of our embarrassing stories about them. But for parents, these memories serve as our most precious possessions. I wrote this for my daughter ten years ago.

         With a Backward Glance

With a backward glance

I see you

as in a thousand ripples

-a red faced newborn

 who opened my womb and world

 to the fierce, tender bond

 of motherhood,

 -a little girl twirling

  in a “flowerful” dress,

  -a gap toothed school girl

   excited by books and learning,

   -a newly licensed driver

    behind the wheel of a Ferrari,

    -a grave faced graduate

     on her way to college,

-a beautiful bride

 stepping into the future,

rippling with potential

you leave us

with a backward glance.

     

Written for Britten’s 28^th birthday 9/24/2010