What If?
What If?
What if we could bring
toys to your home
Instead of flowers to your grave?
Fill your first few days with smiles and stories
Instead of tears and questions?
What if we got to meet you and hold you
Feel your warmth, see your open eyes?
Take you home wrapped in a blanket
Instead of a little white box?
What if the little feet we felt
Inside your mother's tummy
Were now walking, running
And leaving tiny footprints on our lives?
We wouldn't fully appreciate
How lucky we are
Living each day, loving each other
Getting to know your new little sister
Thank you for teaching us
What true love is.
Through your death
We learned how to be truly alive.
Now instead of clinging to what ifs
We hold on to each other more tightly.
The Trojan Defense
by Janette Cole
Drowsy Sunday morning
snuggling in bed, soft cotton sheets
warm, gentle kisses
He looks at me and nods
it's time for the fun
We're young
No time for worries
No time for kids
Just simple, earthly delights
with a thin barrier to keep it
our carefree lifestyle safe.
So safe
Bodies moving.
Slick, sweat, nibbles, groans
Oh god, oh god, OH GOD
Oh god...
Yes turns to no
Sizzling passion fizzles
Biological disaster
Protection gone wrong.
Panic
Panic
Panic
Quick calculations
Where's the calendar?
Panic
Panic
What if?
Oh god
What if?
From All Who Came Before
by Chris Patterson
They are wrapped up in fine linen,
Secured with tanned leather and
Tucked away in Pandora's Box.
So close to the heart and so
Effected by experience are
Our hopes and dreams for you,
Kiera Grace.
It's fear and desire which keep them there.
Fear of the corrosion caused by disappointment.
Desire for no taint of bitterness that can be
brought on by opportunities missed..
With a catch of our collective breath,
We sacrifice what we can so you have
The chance to aspire,
The moments to wonder,
The ability to contemplate all
possibilities that can be your life.
And I can see,
even now,
your eyes are wide open to whatever
It may be, Kiera Grace.
Our hearts swell at the existence of yours.
Where Spirits May Soar
by Andrea Paul
Suppose a symphony of songbirds roused you from your
sleep
Suppose upon awakening the day sparkled with possibility
Suppose you were greeted with scents of clean, sandalwood, and inspiration
Suppose your invitation to begin anew unfolded with each golden ray of dawn
Suppose the coins you tossed in fountains splashed not in vain
Suppose the wishes you made on dandelions carried in the breeze with intent
Suppose your prayers transcended the clouds
Suppose how your spirit might soar
Suppose you felt the spectrum of feelings as they emerged - and you endured
Suppose the blissful times colored your outlook in longer lasting shades
Suppose then you could accept the dreadful moments - without completely falling apart
Suppose your tears cleansed your soul
Suppose how you might blossom
Suppose you believed you could do anything you wanted
Suppose you fashioned a beautiful life of your own filled with vibrancy
Suppose the world really is your canvas
Suppose there are endless colors from which to choose
Suppose you were the only one who kept you from living as you wish
Suppose you managed to get out of your own way
Suppose you remembered and unleashed your heart's desires
Suppose where that might lead you
Childwind
Her hand is cupped
to her cheek
She's finally asleep
My back cramps against the too small headboard
And I ease my way upright
Stretching
Standing there, I could stand there
Forever my eyes holding her
She's never still
Except when she's sleeping
God knows she doesn't need much
A few hours charge her buzzing body
Send her zooming into the stratosphere
A whirling, smiling childwind
I thought I didn't want kids
My eyes betray me
She's mine I'm hers
What if I'd never seen her
Stomping grinning blur?
Her hand cupped to her cheek
I close the door and leave her sleeping
Courage
by Angela Swope
What if I were not afraid?
What if I had the courage to do
what my heart speaks?
What if I pushed through my fear
and did the thing
I cannot do?
What if I keep pushing the fear
until it no longer stands in my way?
What if I push,
and do,
and keep on pushing,
and keep on doing,
until
I am not held back by anything?
What if,
with the barrier down,
I can see more
of what my heart speaks?
and I do it all?
What if fear was afraid of me?