Justifiable pride bursts my heart
My new life about to start
Laughing with limbs all awild
Lies my own first child

Whatever each passing year may throw
Our wonderful love continues to grow
Through the baby and toddler stage
Right up to starting school age

It began with the odd ache or pain
Soon any movement began to strain
‘My Dad’s my hero’ she would say
‘He’ll make all this just fly away’

Words to make this grown man cry
Unable to answer her question why?
‘Why can’t you stop this hurt please Dad
Have I really been that bad?’

Soon only drugs can keep her pain away
As she survives just one more day
I show my strength, at least to her
Whilst all around is just a blur

She passes with me gripping her tiny hand
Never able to begin to understand
Briefly happy that her pain is gone for ever
Knowing our love even death won’t sever