A Ray of Sunshine (standard:poetry, 334 words)
Author: Sarah	Added: Apr 02 2001	Views/Reads: 3829/0	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Poem about my second child.

A RAY OF SUNSHINE 
For John 


Little John 
do you remember when we called you that 
to distinguish you from your grandpa 
for whom you were named 

Too soon you became Big John 
then Bigger John 
when in your teens you towered 
above your namesake 

A ray of sunshine in my life . . . 

I remember when you were ten or so 
racing home from school 
running to the frig to gulp down 
a large glass of orange juice 

I'm just the luckiest kid you said 
Why I asked 
Because I could hardly wait to get home 
to see if there was some orange juice left 
and when I got here -- there it was! 

A ray of sunshine in my life . . . 

That's how I thought of you 
full of the joy of life 
sure that something wonderful 
was just around the corner 
of your childhood world 

One of the dearest treasures of my life 
is the note you wrote when you were seven 
and had been sent to bed early 
punishment for some childhood misdeed 

I picked up the paper lying outside 
your closed bedroom door 
and read these words -- 

I found out that you love Caryn 
more than me and Tom 
Becues we have to go to bed right away 
and Caryn gets to stay up 

When I turned the note over I found 
a dreadful indictment which said 
I        Don't        like        you 

Never was I hurt or offended 
by your righteous indignation 
Always have I cherished this 
now ragged little piece of paper 
as a precious memory of your childhood 
concrete evidence that you were 

A ray of sunshine in my life . . . 

Now you are grown 
a man with a wife and child of your own 

Because of who and what you are 
living your life with integrity 
practicing justice and honor in your work 
demonstrating thoughtfulness and love 
in your personal relationships 
you are still 

A ray of sunshine in my life. 

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