When You Were Born

When you were born,
My hand could fit around yours perfectly.
You grew fast,
Day by day,
Month by month,
Till you were walking and talking,
And your hand could fill up my palm.
You were the most beautiful person I knew.
You started school,
Made friends the very first day,
Along with some scrapes and bruises from running
On the sidewalk.
You learned to read and write,
Soon we couldn’t keep you away from the library.
I’d sing you to sleep,
Your small fingers laced with mine,
Dreaming of dragons and fairies,
Curled up with your stuffed dog.
6th grade came and went,
A flurry of changes,
Between school and boys,
Who didn’t have cooties anymore,
But were now ok.
Your hand was almost as big as mine now,
Nails nervously chewed,
Wondering if anyone liked you.
High school now,
More beautiful than ever,
Headstrong and graceful,
You didn’t notice the following of awestruck boys
Following you around like puppies.
Your hands,
Now the size of mine,
Were dexterous and artful,
Whether it was paint on a canvas or words being written.
Then he came along,
The one who put that goofy grin on your face.
His name was Rakshir,
And made you the happiest girl in the world,
My all-grown-up little girl.
You came home one day,
Bouncy and full of life,
And told me everything,
Making both of us giggling like little kids.
Your daddy met him at the door,
A respectful young man.
Senior year,
Class president,
Graduating Valedictorian of your class,
I cried.
So proud of the young woman I raised.
Later that night,
That very same boy asked for your hand,
We said yes.
You were so happy, taking everything in stride.
A couple months later,
You married that boy,
Happiness overriding all.
Here I am,
Years later,
A grandmother,
With a new hand,
Enveloped in mine.