If I could keep you little

"If I could keep you little, I'd hum you lullabies.

But then I'd miss you singing your concert's big surprise.

If I could keep you little, I'd hold your hand everywhere.

But then I'd miss you knowing, "I can go... you stay there."

If I could keep you little, I'd kiss your cuts and scrapes.

But then I'd miss you learning from your own mistakes.

If I could keep you little, I'd strap you in real tight.

But then I'd miss you swinging from your treetop height.

If I could keep you little, I'd decide on matching clothes.

But then I'd miss you choosing dots on top and stripes below.

If I could keep you little, I'd cut your bread in shapes.

But then I'd miss you finding, "Hey! I like ketchup with my grapes!"

If I could keep you little, I'd tell you stories every night.

But then I'd miss you reading the words you've learned by sight.

If I could keep you little, I'd pick for you a friend or two.

But then I'd miss you finding friends you like who like you, too!

If I could keep you little, I'd push your ducky float. But then I'd miss you feeling the wind behind summer's boat.

If I could keep you little, we'd nap in our fort midday.

But then I'd miss you sharing adventures from camp away.

If I could keep you little, I'd fly you with my feet.

But then I'd miss you seeing sky and clouds from your seat.

If I could keep you little, I'd keep you close to me.

But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be!"

- Marianne Richmond