To The

I've always loved you best,

Because endings are generally sad and you are such

You readily accepted the milk stained bibs...

The lower bunk...

The cracked "second hand" dolls,

The baby book ~ barren but for a recipe for

graham cracker pie crust

that someone jammed between the pages.

You are the one we held onto so tightly.

For you see, you are the link with a past

that gives a reason to tomorrow.

You darken our hair, quicken our step...

Square our shoulders, restore our vision...

And give us humor that security,

maturity and endurity can't give us.

When your hair turns the color of new fallen snow,

And your children tower over you,

You will still be "The Baby"

You were the Culmination