Growing Beautiful

When your hair turns grey

And a silvery white

After the sweaty tears

You rolled down all those nights

I’ll still be with you

And after your fingernails grow older

Become numb to the coldness

And become thick and yellowish

I’ll still be at your side

When your back begins to turn

And you lean towards the earth in honor

Of the years you have walked

I’ll still be with you

As you take showers to baths

And then less frequently

As grandchildren have grown

And our own have moved on

I’ll still be at your side

While you roam around

Finding the medication

Or comforting yourself

In an oak rocking chair

I’ll still be with you

No matter how long it goes on

How many wonderful wrinkles your skin develops

Or how many times I visit you in the hospital

I’ll be there for you

I’ll still brush your hair nightly

And kiss you goodnight

And goodbye

I’ll sit with you and speak with you

And hug you good morning

I’ll help you up from the chair

Or up the stairs to the door

I’ll light candles for you

And still do the dishes as you rest

I’ll reach the high places

And make the holidays perfect

I’ll still gaze into your eyes

Just as if we were young again

For all the years

That I grow with you

I want you to know

I’ll be there for you

And I still

Will be there for you

Forever

© 1999 David Greg Harth

99.02.14.19.11.55 @ 296 NYC