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
