My Birthday Wish for Pedro

Pedro turned 20 this past Friday. This one and only baby picture we have of him evokes strong emotions in me, which led to this poem I wrote for him on his birthday:


I wish I could have been there
When you came into the world
I wish I could have cared for you
Met your needs and soothed your fears

I wish I could have been there
To teach you how to talk,
How to crawl, how to walk
To hold your hand and protect you.

I wish I could have been there
As you grew up and changed
To teach you what you needed to know
And all you wanted to hear.

I wish I could have been there
When you were afraid at night
When other children laughed at you
When life was confusing and strange

I wish I could have been there
I would have loved you
I would have cared for you
The way I do now. The way I always will.