A letter to a prayer

A letter to a prayer

The place is a mess. Scattered far and wide
is the colourful debris of a play time I'd
enjoyed with my daughter the night before.
Textured fabric squeaky things and rattles on the floor.
I'm loathe to clear them up coz at the moment she's asleep
having been fed babyrice and finished on the teat.
I walk from one room to the next, relishing in turn
the slumber of my joy and the joy at what she's learned
in the twinkling that she's been with us. She's soaking up the
rules
'bout using her appendages to manipulate as tools
the rattles and the bunny man that Uncle Barry bought.
Engaging with we parents in a noisy kind of sport.
High pitched dolphin calling. Shrieking to and fro.
When she's drifting off to sleep I don't want to let her go.
Yesterday I saw her hold her arm aloft.
Chunkier and stronger though the skin is just as soft.
I watched a while then noticed what she found so fun.
She was making shadows dance in the shafts of the sun.
I'm stunned by her sponge like ability
to soak up all the beauty in the things she sees.
Time is not an issue for her. She's in no rush.
Transfixed by wind shifting the leaves of a bush.
And taking the Girl swimming in the pool just down the street.
It's a dream come true, I'm telling you, it's not just that she's
sweet
or pretty or a lovely kid or that I'm oh so biased.
She's so much more than the sum of the parts of which she is
comprised.
I love her mother endlessly and would not do her down.
Looking at her now there's much beauty to be found
deriving from Syreeta. No surprise, I'm sure.
The Echo of her mothers best DNA store.
Sy's capacity for joy and her smile lights up the world,
and the smile adorns the face of my little baby girl.
But if I take account of all the good things Sy is made,
The miracle I see in front of me ..... it has to be said...
is far exceeding excellence beyond my wildest dreams.
Genetically, compared to she, I'm a man of meagre means.

So sleep my dearest darling one. Dad'll keep you safe
while you can ponder breezes and construct what you believe
and I'll watch you and encourage you, hindered though I am
by the wisdom of a baby and the frailty of man.

D
xxx