Take my hand

the thing about holding hands with a child...it's like you're holding hope incarnate

I'll take your hand little one, don't worry I won't let go
Don't fear the world right now, it's still early for you to do so
Intimidated by how everything looks big, in what seems to be a land of giants?
Or is it wonder that I see in your eyes, contemplating what's around like a fairytale land of legends?

Here you go and up: now you're on my back
What do you think? doesn't life seem more exciting when you're looking up, with stuff underneath for you to track?
You like it? drink more milk then and eat well so you may grow healthy
And you'll be able to climb greater heights with better views, full of excitement and beauty

Relax, even when above me I'll still hold you tight
You won't fall; you won't be hurt. just sit and enjoy the sight
You know, when I was your age, I used to run around, thinking if I was fast enough, I'll end up flying
Took me long enough to drop that silly thought, though only after months of trying
So don't try that, okay? haha believe me we humans can't fly on our own
We can only climb, or build things to reach the sky once we're ready and grown
Honestly, I don't know what brough that thought to my head
But hey at least it's something you can keep in mind, rather than running around like I used to instead

Tell me though do you see them? the white fluffy-looking clouds above us
Looking like grandpa's beard, or maybe it's just his beard decided to flee and be part of a scene so marvellous!
Quick reach out your hand and grab it! we can sell it back to him for some money!
It's too far? damn it! bad luck for us it seems sonny
Never mind, grandpa can grow another one, and you can have a job in the future to get that money
There is more than one way to get what you want in life, a fact so reassuring it's almost funny

Alright here you go, back to the safe ground
Did you enjoy it above? was there some fun to be found?
Great! now let's go home, hold my hand and let's take the road
What's that? grandpa taught you a word today called "hope"?
You want to know what it means?
Well, it's a feeling you get like when we're holding hands
You feel nothing? ouch...I totally forgot about the sharp edge of the honesty of kids
You'll get that feeling when you grow though, you'll understand
For now, let's define hope as that feeling when grandpa says he has a gift, and you extend your hand
Is it candy? a toy? what could it be?!
Yeah, that's one form of hope, a warm and innocent sight of excitement to see
Alright enough of playing dictionary, let's go back home for soup is waiting!
And by the way that is also another form of hope: though this time I hope grandpa does not finish it and is waiting!