Your soft blonde curls
all around your less-toothed smile
grinning ear to tiny ear.
Proud of your artwork-
learning how to write your name-
on your leg in green marker.
Always in a tender embrace of any animal that stepped in your path.
Your heart shining through your sparkling eyes
with complete compassion and joy.
All the fun times that seem like a lifetime ago,
yet were really only yesterday in this life.
Now a teenager,
and coming full circle to that sweetness in your heart,
sharing it with others, so generous.
When you were little,
not a care in the world,
and it was written all over your face and your body.
As you danced to the beat of the drum that only you heard.
May you always be gentle in your heart, generous in your spirit,
and a little boy in your soul.