Today, You Are Two

If you follow my blog, you will know that we lost my sister seventeen months ago, when my nephew was just seven months old.  Today, he turns two and is a whirlwind of fun and love.  He has forced us all to keep going through some really tough times, as, too, has his big sister.  My sister would be so proud of them both.  I wanted to write a poem to celebrate him - and her continued presence in his life.

Today, You Are Two

Today, you are two.

  I have watched you grow,

   As babies do,

 And marvelled,

  At your perfect, quizzical face,

 At your soft cheeks,

 Dimpling,

  As you smile

  And run away,

   Whenever I stoop

To ask you

For a hug.

Every time,

I catch you and you giggle.

You place your head,

On my shoulder,

For the briefest of moments;

I breathe you in -

A privilege, a delight.

In an instant,

You are off again,

Laughing and whirling;

You show me cars,

Or a train.

You beckon me

To kiss your teddies

And tuck them

Under your blanket.

Perfect little bundle

Of laughter and love!

Heaven’s gift of purest light –

You grow,

Defying the world,

Defying your loss.

An emblem of life

And joy.

For now,

You are immune to the pain

Of all you’ve been through,

Oblivious to the difference

Between your life

And others - 

The path you’ve been destined to walk.

Your scars will be different to ours.

‘Daddy,’

You call, in the night,

When a fleeting dream

Interrupts your peaceful sleep.

Your vocabulary arsenal is growing –

Tractor, dog, come on! –

But one word –

So common to babies –

Is missing.

Mummy.

A word you don’t need,

But one we will make sure that you know.

Grandad shows you photographs,

As he bears you in his arms,

Along the hall way,

Carrying, in you,

A tiny portion of her, too.

Your face lights up,

Reflecting back

Another familiar countenance –

Her flame,

Kept alive,

In you.

Today, you are two.

She, too, would have watched you grow,

As babies do,

And marvelled,

At your perfect, quizzical face,

At your soft cheeks,

Dimpling,

As you smile.

You would have run away,

From her, too,

If she were here,

To stoop

To ask you

For a hug.

She would catch you and you would giggle,

And place your head,

On her shoulder

For the briefest of moments.

And she would breathe you in;

Her privilege, her delight –

Her perfect little bundle

Of laughter and love.

One day,

You will understand.

One day,

You too will carry the burden we carry.

But, for now,

You clap at candles and cake

And we smile

At your quizzical little face

And our cheeks dimple,

In unison with yours –

Laughter-bringer,

Heart-lifter.

Heaven’s gift of purest light,

Perfect, precious bundle,

Of laughter and love.