I look at your face

Small and innocent

And my heart bleeds

For what this world

Will do to you.

     I want to wrap you

     Close in my love

     Hold you safe

     In my heart

     Throw a shield

     Around your innocence

     Guard your preciousness

      With my wisdom

           Let no future

           Pain of partings

           No slights or sufferings

           No tears or torment

           No fickleness of fate

           Near your newness.

           Unstamped smooth skinned

           Dewness

                        If I could my love

                         I would take all

                        The pain to come

                         Gladly as my lot.

                         Shoulder your burden

                         Carry it willingly

                         St Christopher like

                         Upon my back

                        Through your future.

                                     My mind keens

                                     With the fears

                                     Of what will come

                                             To pass

                                        I cannot hold back

                                       The tides of time,

                                       Incarcerate you,

                                       Rapunzel like

                                       In an ivory tower

                                       Of my making.

                                                It is your right,

                                                Little one

                                                To love and lose.

                                                To cry and sorrow,

                                                To falter and fail.

                                                 And I can only

                                                Stand and watch

                                                And catch you

                                                When you fall.