THE CHILD WITHIN

THE CHILD WITHIN

May you always keep the child within

And retain your sense of wonder,

As you stand beside the mighty ocean

When you hear the rolling thunder.

I hope your heart always rejoices

To smell the grass newly mown,

The tiny germinated plant

From the seeds that you have sown.

May it always touch your soul

To feel another’s care,

To share a distant memory

And know that they were there.

I hope you enjoy the seasons

As they change from year to year.

Rain filled stormy nights

And morning crisp and clear.

The daffodils in springtime,

The rose’s sweet perfume

Church bells ringing ~

A smiling bride and groom.

May you always walk in sunshine

And lend a helping hand

To those whose life has changed

From the way they had it planned.

May you always keep the child within

And laugh and play and sing,

May you always have the strength

For whatever life may bring.

I wish you love and happiness

And courage to take a chance

And when the music plays for you

I hope that you can dance.

©  Linda J. Vaughan

January 23^rd. 2005

THOUGHTS ON MY CHILDREN

THOUGHTS ON CHILDREN

My children when I look at you 

And see how much you've grown,

It takes me back in memory 

To the best days I have known.

You were wanted and planned for

And I struggled to give you birth,

No greater joy has ever been mine

The sweetest days on earth.

I held your tiny hands in mine

And looked into your eyes,

Very protective I became

I should give me no surprise,

Each stage you went through

Was learning for me too

I tried so very hard 

To do the best for you.

I painted and cooked with you

And let you walk in the rain,

We often splashed in puddles

These days would not come again.

We sang sweet songs and nursery rhymes

We read books by the score,

I see you now tucked up in bed

If I peep through memory's door.

I hear the funny things you said

And see the funny things you'd do,

I remember oh so much of childhood days

With sport, lessons and the music too.

I watched with pride as you graduated

Cap and gown ~ my pride worn on my sleeve

I knew that they were coming

The days when you would leave.

And now you are established

Settled down and happy too

You work very hard in life

And I'm so proud of you.

It is another hand you reach for

And love shines in your eyes

May love and laughter live for you 

Under clear blue skies.

I watch you now as you sit down to eat

A glass of wine in your hand,

I hear your deep discussions on life

And the things that you have planned.

You have brought such joy to me

And I take joy like no other

That life was very kind to me

And I am your loving Mother. 

© Linda J. Vaughan

9th. July 2012

I REMEMBER

I REMEMBER

  

How often in memory have you strayed

Back to the days of old?

When life was sweet and you cherished

The tales that your Grandpa told.

When you splashed at the beach

And in rock pools stayed,

With tiny crabs and starfish

And you played with a bucket and spade?

When you sat in the grass and made daisy chains

Which you hung round your neck and wrist?

And you felt the warmth of golden days

When with sunshine you were kissed.

When each year seemed to take forever

To get back to the Festive Season.

When days were long and you had not a care

Did not question the rhyme or the reason.

Do you remember walking in leaves

And rolling around on the grass?

Just lying back and watching the sky

How quickly those days did pass.

And now as a grown up – it’s hard to recall

How life was much simpler then.

When we women were still little girls

And the boys not yet grown to be men.

So cherish each memory – hold it in store

For I am sure it will be a great part

Of the times of your life you want to recall

The times that belong in your heart.

© Linda J. Vaughan

October 29 2001

TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

Oh to turn back the hands of time,

And play with my children again

To walk in the park, dig in the sand

And splash in the puddles of rain.

To listen more keenly to the tales they tell

And to look into their dream filled eyes,

To wonder again at a thunder storm 

And to see the world with surprise.

To sit by their bed and soothe their pain

When sickness came their way,

To read them the same old story

Again at the end of the day.

I long to feel the magic of The Tooth Fairy,

And dear Santa's magic spell,

To wonder if the Easter Bunny would visit

Oh the stories we would tell.

I still can look into dream filled eyes

As they soar on eagle wings,

And can see the happiness

That their success can bring.

Each day is a gift and a blessing,

For them as well as for me,

But I remember well the days

When they were children at my knee.

© Linda J. Vaughan