Watching you grow up
by Cyndi Yuska
I fell in love with your
sweet little cheeks
and the hugs
you gave so freely
to your favorite
little aunt.
You two are only
nine and
ten years younger than I;
We grew up
as sisters, neighbors.
Friends.
Do you remember when you were just
babies?
(I was practically a baby, too)
We swam every single day
in the backyard pool,
Caitlin, you told such wild
stories then, of candy and marriage,
and flowers and tomorrows - all while standing
atop a ladder, daring water to
come your way, screaming
if it touched the bottom
of your skirted
bikini suit.
Kelsey, you swam like a little freshwater fish,
still covered in baby chub,
my little honey doll.
We swam in the Allegheny at the cabin, too -
Caitlin we forced your little
prissy butt
into the water this time.
And we played all day sometimes,
never changing from our suits -
If we had to pee
we did it in the river -
that's what Pap-Pap, who you never met,
taght me.
Kelsey, one day you lost your sweet little self,
threw a fit and ransacked
my closet. I'll always remember
how much you seemed
like Caitlin!
Caitlin was my
bitching buddy
we made everyone else's life
hell. Do you think they'll remember us
for anything else?
Why would they?
We're proud of who we've been.
There was the day we found out you were
moving.
I clung to you, your tiny
arms grasping at my fourteen year old
neck.
But they pulled
you
away from
me.
And you've grown.
And things changed.
And it's been six years.
And I thought I'd lost you
Lost the passion we'd shared
the fun we'd had
the years spent stealing candy
sharing secrets
sneaking over for aunt/niece visits
But it's been six years.
And we're still here
Farther apart than ever
Yet never closer in heart.
I'm still in love
with your sweet little cheeks
your wide eyes
your pure hearts.
your sarcastic little preteen mouths.
I may be far away,
and you may be getting big,
but forever
I will love you,
my babies.