I sat down on the park bench
as fall leaves fell
Brightly colored indeed they
were, swirled by the wind
 
The trees had so few left as
winter fast approached
When suddenly a golden leaf
landed on my knee 
                                                                                                                                             
I wondered what the odds were
when I heard a giggle
The innocence of a child and as
I felt my smile begin to grow
 
I softly whispered to the spirit
"thank you for the leaf"
It was then, that I saw a little
red haired child appear nearby
 
Her smile was so irresistible
and she looked so precocious
She wore blue jeans and a blue
pooh bear tee-shirt 
                                                                                                                                  
Blue eyes that were so deep, I
just smiled ear to ear
"All my friends say, you are our
friend, she said with a giggle"
 
I was at a loss for words just then
as her smile began to fade
Her eyes welled up with tears
as she looked down at her feet
 
"I never got to say good-bye to
my mom and dad last year
I slipped on the steps of the slide
and fell to the ground
 
It happened so fast, and then I
was surrounded by other kids
I don't know where they all came
from, but they helped me up
 
My name is Rebecca, but all my
friends call me giggles"
But at that moment, her name seemed
out of place as she cried
 
I felt a tear roll down my cheek, and
she saw the tear falling too
She walked quickly over and with a
tiny finger, wiped my tear away
 
You mustn't cry Raymond, because you
are the voice of all children
You share within your poems, all of our
stories, whispering to all
 
You see me now, as once I was and
I feel the warmth in your heart
You speak for each of us, and what you
say touches so many hearts 
                                                              
I am drawn to you like my friends are"
and as I looked behind her
Many more children were walking up
each one smiling, or waving 
                                                                                                                           
Soon, there must of been a dozen little ones
all sitting around, nudging each other
Listening to me as I told them stories that
filled their faces with delight
 
I spent most of the day there, and finally
the day light began to fade
One by one they stood up, looking sad
some waving, some coming for a hug
 
That day I gave them something, a little
bit of love that they missed
And in return, they each gave me something
as well, tears of joy in my heart
 
© 2002 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)