Can I Carry You?

 I guess that I can hold you

one more time before you grow.

And tell you that I love you so that you will always know.

Please let me tie your shoe again.

One day you'll tie your own.

And when you think back to this time I hope it's love I've shown.

Can I help you put your coat on?

Can I please cut up your meat?

Can I pull you in the wagon?

Can I pick you out a treat?

One day you might just care for me, so let me care for you.

I want to be a part of every little thing you do.

Tonight could I please wash your hair?

Can I put toys in your bath?

Can I help you count your small ten toes before I teach you math?

Before you join a baseball team can I pitch you one more ball?

And one more time can I stand near to make sure that you don't fall?

Let's take another space-ship ride 

up to the planet Zoor.

Before our cardboard rocketship doesn't fit us anymore.

Please let me help you up the hill 

while you're still too small to climb.

And let me read you stories while you're young and have the time.

I know the day will come 

when you will do these things alone.

Will you recall the shoulder rides and all the balls that we've thrown?

So will you let me carry you?

One day you'll walk alone.

I cannot bear to miss one day from now until you've grown.

 --by Brad Anderson