Emily

Emily

At play in the garden, sun gently filtering
Through the bright halo of long, golden hair
Splayed in the grass with a butterfly hovering
Over her head in the warm summer air.

Dipping and weaving, this wonderful creature,
Wearing the mantle of Admiral red
Colours her world with a beautiful memory
To sweetly revisit her when she’s in bed.

Grubby of hand, reaching upward to capture it,
Twinkly of eye as it flies out of reach.
I silently watch and I savour the rapture it
Brings to see Emily, skin like a peach

Settle her dollies around like a carousel,
Small chubby fingers adjusting their curls.
Suddenly chuckling, the laughter spills out of her
Showing her baby teeth shining like pearls.

Happy is Emily here in the afternoon,
Petticoats white against gold-burnished skin,
Feeding her babies with cold, homemade lemonade
Supping, herself, till it runs down her chin.

Soon comes the time when her dollies are gathered up.
Up comes the blanket and in for some tea.
Into the bathtub, Emily, lathered up,
Singing the Alphabet Song A B C.

Mummy is afternoon, Daddy is evening,
Gathers her up as he walks through the door
Holding her high, almost touching the ceiling,
Tickles relentlessly, still she wants more.

A stroke for the cat and then up to her bedroom.
Daddy is following, book in his hand.
He’ll read her a story of fairies and princes
And such things to send her to Sleepytime Land.

She’ll drift off remembering the gorgeous red butterfly,
Not sad at all as sleep takes her away
For when she awakes in the morn, at her fingertips
She’ll find another warm, wonderful day.