For Peanut

gleefully
joyfully
you dance into the room


hands behind your back
and sing
"I've got a surprise for you!"


slowly
dramatically
you present your treasure

carefully wrapped
in notebook paper
and yards of Scotch tape

"Say you’re surprised?
Say you like it?
Say it’s just what you wanted?" *

expectantly
hopefully
you wait for a reaction

giggling
your hands clasped
in breathless excitement

I open it
and try in vain
to match your enthusiasm

and think what a shame it is

that you will never know
because I will never be able
to make you see

how
madly
deeply I love

how
profoundly
eternally thankful I am for

the gift of you





*A.A. Milne