I Meant to Tell You

I meant to tell you--before I forget:
I remember when you were born.

I remember laying my cheek on mom's
round tummy and trying to tell tell you
to move.

I remember you were born
while I was sick so I couldn't hold you at first
then you were a baby and
mom was pregnant again.

I remember you loved carrot mush.  I fed you
and your face turned orange.

I thought you were
my baby doll
you were a vivacious
little girl.

I remember when we both took dance lessons
And I loved it and
You hated it.

We are so very different
We are very much the same.
We always seemed so very far apart in age
You said you didn't want to be like me--you
wanted to be like Ryan
You didn't mean to hurt my feelings.

When I tried to tell you what to do
you always listened--because I was older.
I didn't understand
you were growing, but
You stopped listening.

The first time you went alone to a swing dance
you wore make-up and curled your hair
you wore a skirt and form-fitting shirt
you talked of boys and dancing and
you weren't a little girl.

That day I realized
you had grown up.

You said you were becoming your own person
I'm glad to find it's true
You've become lovely, vivacious and full of fun.
You're brilliant and gentle too.

We will never be the same person
I am glad.
I can't be friends with a clone. But
I can be friends with you.

It was a while ago...
But I remember when you were small
And all the years we spent together
I meant to tell you that.

It Did Not Always Stay So

It did not always stay so;
but I am glad it happened.

I was a just a girl--you
were just a boy
But you treated me
like a lady.

You taught me
to question
the things I thought I knew.
I taught you
you weren't always
right.

Strong-willed, stubborn
We both were.
But for you
and for that time
I am grateful.