Fading Youth

Fading Youth

Dolores Rusin

When you arrived

My arms opened wide

With a welcome so caring

I could not hide

You stole a piece of my heart

And never let go

So I fed you

And cleaned you

Taught you to talk

After a few weeks

I taught you to walk

Whenever you stumbled

I helped you get up

Encouraging hugs

Gave you the confident strides

To seek independence

To reach far and wide

Then I had to let go

And while this was happening

I began to grow old

Sometimes I stumble

My gait is so slow

To see I need glasses

My memory’s fading

Sometimes I’m mixed up

I feel like a burden

Like a bumbling pup

Then you remember

Those days gone by

When my whole world was you

The apple of my eye

When you show me some kindness

And are patient with love

That’s all I can ask for

With a smile and a hug

Keep these memories alive

And then if you do

You’ll remember someday

This will happen to you

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