you feel as if you’re sinking
sand shifting under feet 
waters rising fast
and in your eyes i see the fear

but i want to reassure you
this is not the place
that you were in before

and you as well 
are not the same 

i have watched you grow
and because you only see
day by day you might not 
recognise this to be true

but from where i sit
i see the picture large 
and you, my dear
have changed

with intentional movements
that became routines 
as small as they might up close
from your perspective seem
they have made a difference

and if the waters rise up high
(even for a day) 
i know that you will float 
and perhaps even have strength 
to swim 

until the tide 
recedes again

heather pound 2025

Photo by Gustavo Zambelli on Unsplash