photo: “Alice in Wonderland” by Yuki Valentine
To grow up
is to chase off
our innocence
to stifle our naive belief
in the world as a beautiful place
it is to harden against the magic
of our childhood dreams
but if by chance
we can hold tight
to just one
of those wonderful foolishnesses
perhaps we can hold on
to our precious sense of wonder
I was once
years ago
in real danger
of running myself up a tree
out onto a lonely limb
my wonder ebbing
but you pulled me out of it
you have since
filled my life
with wonder
with radiance
with magic
and with breathtaking beauty
please hear
beyond just these words
because my deepest love
is in here — calling
I pray I can hold on
to the wonder of you
my love
for a lifetime longer
however long that may prove to be
please know
my precious valentine
that I love you
with all my heart
with all the essence
of my being
My Kathy has cancer.
*
rob kistner © 2023
Poetry at: dVerse
More Poetry for OLN at: dVerse