Shards of Sand

For Layla

You wanted me to write
A story about you so I'll try
My best for you my purple girl
And hope you smile too..

She has so many bracelets
Her arm is a row of candied
Rings of plastic beads and
Knotted strings and I
See the colors not only there
But in her hands (purple marker)
On her nose (more purple) and
In her hair (butterflies up there)..
Tell me a story from that book
She begs because she's never
Held or heard of that book
So I do
And she scribbles a queen
And a king and faithful bravery
In setting people free in splashes of
Lavender and bursts of pink
And I wish I could give her more
Wish this wasn't the last day
But it is and all I can do is pray
That she won't forget You even if
She forgets me..
What's faith
She asks and I see it in her eyes
Pale brown framed by long lashes
She has faith in me to give her
Answers the right answers
So I do, or at least I try
And trust and belief aren't the same
But I'm trusting and believing
For faith for the both of us..
God's wonders?
Her voice lilts up questioningly
And suddenly I see painted clouds
In her voice and I take
A purple crayon and write
Layla
And she smiles and suddenly I see
A summer breeze carrying the smell
Of sweet lemonade sticky like
Her purple stained hands and
We write together until the box
Is filled with purple grapes and
Chickens and green grapes and
Trees and people and even me..
Can I keep this?
YES yes you can keep it
It's your favorite song and don't ever
Stop singing singing singing
Because you love it and He loves it
The one we're living for
The love the light
Like a fire burning
And I give you my favorite
Mechanical pencil because I see
You looking at it and it's purple
And remember to write light with it
Because you're not of the night
Despite your name..
Layla
You are lovely
And already six
You are night
But not dark night
Because you light up the world
Light it up light it up
With your smile like a petal of vanilla
And your laugh is a butterfly
With your energy a glowing moon
Your words and questions cinnamon
And with your love and all of you
You should be bright night instead
And I pray that you grow in the light
And spread your purple wings and fly..
So though you're night on paper..
I'll always see you as the sunrise.

You wanted me to write
A story about you so I tried
My best for you my starry night
And I pray I'll see you again someday..