One Step At A Time Poem by Allysyn Bryant

There’s only so much I can do these days
Thing seem to be getting just a little harder
Without you here, without your reassuring words
It’ll be okay is what you use to say
I knew better, but you smiled all the same

I had walked home today, took almost an hour and a half
It really only takes half of that
The day was cold but sunny
Birds flying south, wind blowing leaves from the trees
I had to stop and just look around
Can’t help but think of how you would of loved it here

So young you were, when your life was taken from me
Auntie Ally. That’s what you use to call me
Even though I was never actually an aunt of yours
Just good friends of your parents
And when their lives were too taken away
I was all you had left, besides your Uncle Ty

I tried everything I could do
I just couldn’t seem to save you
I didn’t know what to do
Your tumor was getting worse
Surgery, our last choice, didn’t work
And then you never woke
I cried that night, and several nights after that too
I’m sorry little one, my little Sheri-Ann
I didn’t mean to fail you
I only hope that you can forgive me

The sunshine through the trees
I remember how it looked in your red hair
You were so proud of how long it once was
It was the little things in life you would admire most
Things that people have seem to long forgotten existed
But I remember, thanks to you

I keep my hair long, just for you
Stop and smell the roses, just like you always made me do
Go to the shelter in town, just to say hi and play a few games with the kids
You use to love doing that
And yes, I still go to the duck pond behind the library
Feed the ducks and then just sit
I love you, my little one, never you forget that

December 9,2008