I can still remember the day I brought you into this world.
A tiny seedling cradled in my tiny hand, I laid you down in a bed of soil
and blanketed you with water, fertilizer, and love. Every day I ventured out to your little
plot and sang the stories of the land, hoping that you would learn the trill of my voice.
And then I waited, praying that you would plant your roots in the little area that I had
chosen to be our home. And then I saw you again, but I was surprised. You were no
longer the tiny seed I had so long cared for. Your little head poked out, and while you
weren’t used to the brightness, you still leaned into it as much as you could. From that
moment you didn’t stop. You began to branch out and make friends while I just
continued to give you the nutrients you needed to maintain your energy.
Soon you were the most popular one in the entire neighborhood.
Everyone came to admire your beauty and
your warm embrace. Now I can’t even
see your head anymore. You stand
among the clouds, reaching to the
heavens and extending your reach
to the ends of the earth. You have
blossomed, my child, but I am afraid
I cannot join you any longer. Even
now, I can only watch you from the
window, hoping that you have not
yet forgotten my gentle touch. While
I wither away, I hope that I can hold
you in my arms one last time. You
have your whole life ahead of you,
and while I won’t be around for all of it,
just know that I will always love you,
My dear, my darling, my little seedling.
Allyson Abad ’16