Poetry Pleases: In Celebration Of A Grand-Daughter's First Birthday
Maggie Smith's deeply-felt poem addressed to her infant grand-daughter contains some hauntingly memorable lines.
To know tears, too
For if you never hear the howl of wolves
How can you truly know the joy of safety?
Exhausted, she phones
“I have a little girl”
And there you were.
Crowned with black curls,
Exquisite fingers splayed.
It seems you’ve always known
Just who you are
I watch you reach towards life,
Trusting, laughing,
Full of determined curiosity
What gifts would I offer you today?
Simply more of those you seem to have:
To know always that you are loved
To know laughter -
To retain your sense of wonder
To question what does not seem right
To love music - words - books – life
To search beyond what is
To what might be
To know tears, too;
For if you never hear the howl of wolves,
How can you truly know the joy of safety?
I want to offer too the promise that,
While I am here,
There is an ear to listen, a hand to hold
Whenever you’re uncertain, angry, scared.
Go well, dance free, my lovely
Remember little is impossible -
You just don’t yet know how.
