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For my beloved daughter, Amy Beth -
13th March 2008

It's ten years today since you were born -
This should not be a day to mourn
The loss of one so young and dear,
Whom I loved to hold so near.

This is such a special date -
It should have been to celebrate
A very special baby's birth -
Our precious girl, whose life was worth
More than all the jewels and gold
That all the mines on earth could hold -

To me, whose life was richer far
Than if I was a movie star.
To be your mummy was the best
Role in which I could invest
All the passion of my soul -
Loving you made me feel whole.

We shared a very special bond,
To me you always did respond
With so much love in your clear eyes -
Your pure, sweet soul had no disguise.
It shone there in your lovely face,
Reflecting your Creator's grace.

It was a privilege beyond compare
To have you in my life and share
Tender hours in days galore -
But how I wish there could be more!

I miss you more than I can say,
You seem so very far away.
As time goes by the pain increases,
My heart is torn in many pieces.

I must be brave and face the rest
Of life on earth and do my best
To honour you - who fought so hard
Every inch and foot and yard
Of your short life to stay so long
In spite of all that was so wrong -
Which stopped you living life as we
Had dreamed with love that it would be
When we planned a child to make
Life complete through give and take.

As it was, you gave far more
Than we had ever known before
Of love and meaning in our life
As a couple - man and wife.

It was pure joy to give to you,
Nothing was too much - that's true!
We wished that we had so much more
Which we could give you to restore
Your potential that you had
Before things went so very bad
As you tried to make your way
Into this world, with us to stay.

Forever in my heart I'll bear
Hidden scars - they'll still be there
Till the time, by God's free grace,
I again see your sweet face
And hold you in my arms again -
Only then will all the pain
And all the tears be wiped away -
On that glad eternal day
When I see my little girl
Run and jump and skip and twirl
In your joy to welcome me
To that place where you are free.

Such hope brings comfort to me now
At those times I wonder how
I can cope with such a loss
And bearing such a heavy cross
In this life without you, dearest
Little angel of mine, the nearest
Soul I've ever had to mine,
That reflected the divine
Origins of your sweet life -
And touched us all amidst the strife
You endured with spirit grand
Until God took you by the hand -
And led you right through heaven's gates
To all the joy that there awaits
Those like you who, free from sin,
Have the right to enter in.

Believing you are there, so free
And happy for eternity
Helps me bear the grief and sorrow
That will be still be there tomorrow
And whatever time remains
Till God removes me from such pains.

I'm human though and incomplete,
And so today's been bitter-sweet
As I've reflected on ten years
Filled with sacred joys and tears.
In my heart this will ever be
Your birthday anniversary,
A day combining joy and grief,
Honouring a life too brief.

Learn more about this author, Ruth Woodhouse.
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