Once you
Gazed, fresh from heaven, at eyes looking into yours,
Filled with excitement, the spring of our memories—
Days full of “Lookit!” and “C’mon!” and “Let’s go!”
With never a thought for the winter—unheard of—a
Dream seen imperfectly, glimpsed only briefly in
Hospitals, dim old eyes, so far away.

Now you
Race in the sun-dappled shadow of summer trees.
Full-leafed they stand, gently cradling your climb-spent form,
Looking right through you with eyes that know everything,
Things that you don’t know, like soon you’ll be leaving your
Tree-climbing days, and that someday you’ll look into
Eyes full of questions you can’t always answer, that
Could not conceive the tenth part of your meaning, if
Ever you tried to explain what you’ve learned.

Then you
Come back one day, with your eyes slowly opening,
Look into eyes that have seen the whole story, that
Know in the autumn the joy of the seasons, and
Gaze straight from heaven and call you their own.

Judith Anderson

Haiku
Dark shadows reach out
Kisses, kisses, hugs as well
Sleep and dreams secure