Change

You come silent and unwelcome

Whether by day or night

Your shadow is invisible to naïve eyes

Your footsteps to be heard when embraced with delight

You lay beneath waiting to creep

You can hurt me and make me feel weak

Unannounced you present yourself, a bittersweet gift

A reminder of the past, the forgotten, and misunderstood

Once there everything anew

My old life behind me never to undo

You are mine for the taking, to use as I wish

But be aware my demise may be a part of this

Consuming me not whole but piece by piece

Making sure my entire being feels your leash

My restraints now apparent too harsh to ignore

The Warning was there, I got what I asked for

I wanted you anyway that I could

To make me different and not misunderstood

You marred me but still I soldiered on

Bringing to light the new life I carried within

Once unwelcomed, now invited with joy

Seen through new eyes

Your shadow visible and solidifying with time

Your footsteps heard over crackling laughter of a little girl and boy

In them I see hope for the world to come

In them I see the future before it has begun

Through brown eyes alight with wonder, joy, and kindness

I know it’s you, Change, I have to thank for this.