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i remember you ahead of me as you walked up that ol’ hill
thought i saw you dancing, you never were one to sit still
every song my voice is calling you saying please don’t die
every dream where you appear to me there’s that glimmer in your eye
impatience in your sigh

and there’s this child . she’s got your rumble in her soul
she’s always moving, but won’t be told where to go
a will just like a freight train . her love pours down like steady rain
and those same blue eyes

at times when you inspired me to more than i believed
somehow my feet kept up with yours, my pain reactors were deceived
it’s all that i can do these days to reach out and reclaim
that balance of my sorrow with the joy i feel
when calling out your name

this child …

i left you in frustration, misunderstanding what you said
the pain that wracked my body had made confusion in my head
we worked our last mistakes out through the mail and telephone
and i thought i’d see you often after i heard that dial tone

a daughter was delivered during that time i spent with you
i knew that she was coming but didn’t know what she would do
this wonder that i speak of, she is precious to behold
i hope that you are watching, as in your image she unfolds

there’s this child …

87 for catherine freer . when ruby was born