The Girl on the Sidelines

I'll Miss the Little You

Cradled in my arms as you sleep

Your little hand holding on to my t-shirt's fabric

I kiss your forehead and lay you in bed

As I watched you peacefully in your sleep.

You're my princess and my precious baby

And when you laugh you wash away my worry

Your eyes that shine with happiness

Takes away all my sadness.

You could stay like this forever

Never grow up and always be little

You'll never know what hurt is

And you'll never break your heart.

No one will make you cry

Your heart won't have wounds and scars

You'll be filled with happiness

And be my precious little baby.

Fifteen years later I watch you sleep in bed

I trace a dry tear in your cheeks

I wish you were still little

And no one ever broke your heart.

You no longer hold my hand or sleep in my arms

Your smile barely reaches the corners of your eyes

I miss the times when we both jumped in your bed

And you kiss me before you sleep.

You've grown up and I've grown older

Our time together slowly dwindles

I miss the warmth of your little hands

Pressed upon my very palms.

I glimpse at your photographs

You were so young once and I missed you like that

I wish you could stay like that forever

Stop growing older and be my precious baby forever.

You could stay a child forever

Never grow up and always be little

You'll never know what hurt is

And you'll never have to break your heart.

Just stay so little so I can tuck you in bed

Whisper your favorite songs as you sleep at night

You'll never have tears in your eyes

And you'll always be my precious little child.

I wish you'd never grow up

I'd still cradle you in my arms

I wish you'd never grow up

Your hands are still in my palms.

I wish you'd never grow up because when you do

I know that I'll always miss the little you

But don't you worry my pretty child

I'll still love you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Though I don't have a child yet, I do look after my niece and this was what I was thinking of. This poem is a version of my poem I Miss The Days When You Watched Me Sleep that I would post in an upcoming poetry book entitled "Through the Eyes of a Child" that I will publish in wattpad after I completed the ten poems for "Girl on the Sidelines".

I posted this version earlier since it is different from the original version. I was actually looking at some of my childhood pictures and I knew that one day when I get married and have kids I would also look at their childhood photos and wish they somehow never grew up. When I looked after my niece I felt the same thing too. When I cradled her in my arms and wonder how a tiny thing could bring joy in my heart and a smile that reaches even the farthest corners of my eyes, I knew that one day she would grow up to become a lady and I would reminisce the times when I watched her sleep in her crib and play with her as I listen to her laughter.