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I held you in my heart before I knew
Those dimpled cheeks and beaming impish grin.
Once quite the helpless creature, then you grew
Into the little man you are. And when
You speak with a maturity unearned,
Intelligence beyond your fledgling years,
Amazing me each day with what you've learned,
Your childhood much too quickly disappears.
Soon time will take this little boy from me—
Replace this child I love now with a man.
Whatever you decide you want to be,
I hope that you will always understand:
I held you in my heart when you were small,
And time won't change my love for you at all.
This poem first appeared in Westward Quarterly.
Used here with permission.
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Randal Burd teaches adult education classes and works with at-risk youth at a residential treatment facility in rural Missouri. He has a Master's Degree in English Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Missouri and his work has been published in a variety of publications. A married father of two, Randal enjoys doing genealogy research when he is not indulging in his self-sabotaging compulsion to write poetry that rhymes. Learn more about him at http://theedgeofmemory.com.
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RABurdJr:
Thank you for the gracious comments! My little man turned 7 on June 11.
Posted 06/17/2021 01:59 PM
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KiwiGallicorn:
So beautiful that I cried a little bit
Posted 06/16/2021 11:13 PM
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joecot:
a straight shot of love
Posted 06/16/2021 10:25 PM
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Judy:
Such a sweet poem!
Posted 06/16/2021 11:16 AM
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Darrell Arnold:
Thank you Randy. This one is excellent, and you are my hero for continuing to write poetry that rhymes. Old School is cool.
Posted 06/16/2021 10:10 AM
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paradea:
Perfectly-rhymed! Great poem!
Posted 06/16/2021 09:52 AM
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michael escoubas:
Message to the heart about forever love . . . for sure! Well done, Randal!
Posted 06/16/2021 09:35 AM
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mail@schoolbusmart.com:
sent this to my son... thanks, Randy
Posted 06/16/2021 09:14 AM
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Cathy’s Sister:
Perfectly worded. Resonates with grandmas too!
Posted 06/16/2021 08:46 AM
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bbatcher:
Beautiful well-crafted sonnet, which the "Little Man" will always treasure, along with many other fathers and sons.
Posted 06/16/2021 08:34 AM
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Kay N. Sanders:
I am touched beyond measure. Thank you, Randal.
Posted 06/16/2021 07:50 AM
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Tracers645:
Beautiful poem - thanks.
Posted 06/16/2021 06:38 AM
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