A poem for Caleb’s 10th birthday

I didn’t get to bring you home or rock you to sleep

I didn’t get to play with you or tickle your little feet

I didn’t get to walk with you or teach you to ride a bike

I didn’t get to bake you a cake or learn what you would like

I didn’t get to hold your hand as we crossed the street

Or teach you to play soccer or take you to the beach

I didn’t get to watch you grow or see what you would do

I didn’t get to celebrate the amazing things you’d do

But

I didn’t have to hear you cry or bandage a skinned knee

I didn’t have to yell at you for climbing too high in the tree

I didn’t have to punish you for fighting with your brothers

Or take away your toys because you didn’t share with others

I didn’t have to comfort you after a broken heart

Or watch you struggle with schoolwork and have to restart

I didn’t have to watch you fail, with dreams set aside

I didn’t have to watch you suffer in this broken life

Your whole life lived in a moment as you passed from our world

You leave me with empty arms but an overflowing heart.