14/08/2023
Last week, the flu visited us.
First Mummy, then you and Daddy.
Though Mummy tried to stay strong,
It was still pretty rough.
So I felt how it must have been for you,
A lot for your little body.
Too exhausted to play,
You felt sore,
You rarely ate,
You couldnโt sleep.
Every breath was laborious.
You coughed your lungs out.
Your body shivered at one moment,
Then burned hot the next.
You wanted to be held
All day and all night.
You kept waking yourself up in pain,
Wailed in anguish,
inconsolable,
Regardless of what we did.
It made our hearts teary.
At times, we wished we could take the pain away,
But I remembered that this pain was a human experience
Through which we grew.
You got this and we got you.
So we were tired together.
All the work could wait.
We felt in love with the slowness.
We rested our bodies,
Gave them time and nourishment,
And were thankful for their love
In health and in sickness.
No matter how long the nights were,
We were here together.
For this moment, we held you tight
And close to our hearts,
Rocked you side to side,
And sang lullabies
All day and all night.
_With my darling Mira and Andrew Ramsden_
14/08/2023